Myron Bernard Zinn

Myron B. Zinn, M.D., of San Antonio, Texas and Nantucket, Massachusetts passed away March 11, 2002 after a lifetime of devotion to medicine. He was born April 22, 1929 in New York City, son of Dr. Philip Zinn and Dora Muss Zinn. He graduated from George Washington University in 1950 and received his medical doctorate from New York University College of Medicine in 1954. He completed his internship at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn in 1955 and his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Cardiology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx in 1958. He then served as Research Physician in the Aerospace Medicine Laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1960 and completed his military service at Randolph Air Force Base. He remained in San Antonio in private practice from 1960 until he retired in 1999. He was principal founding partner of The Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio, which grew to become the city's largest group of cardiologists. He was a passionate, dedicated, and tireless advocate for his patients, many of whom became his close friends. He helped countless patients and received grateful calls and letters even after retiring. Most of his patients felt he was the finest doctor they had ever known and had total faith in his judgment. His colleagues noted that he was among the first area physicians to recognize the importance of treating high cholesterol for cardiovascular health. He was always at the forefront of cardiovascular medicine, including pacemakers, nuclear imaging, invasive and interventional cardiology. He was a leader in the medical community, serving as Chief of Medicine and Chief of Staff at Methodist Hospital in 1970 and Chief of Cardiology at St. Luke's Baptist Hospital from 1990-1991. He was a member of the Bexar County Medical Society and Texas Medical Association and Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Physicians. He also served on the Council on Clinical Cardiology of the American Medical Association. He enjoyed teaching and was a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for more than 30 years, recently lecturing in Medical Economics and Health Policy on the subject of "Preserving the Legacy of Medicine". He was a philosopher, expounding on the basic traditions in medicine: the Hippocratic Oath, describing the social role of a doctor and the paramount importance of high skills and ethical conduct; and the Maimonides Prayer, seeing the physician as serving a higher purpose. He lived these principles in his care, skill, and grace as a physician, husband, father, grandfather, friend, and mentor to younger physicians. He was a doctor's doctor. After retiring he vigorously pursued his longtime passion for photography and recently exhibited his work at the San Antonio Art League. He was also an avid gardener and fisherman and rededicated himself to mastery of contract bridge after a 40-year hiatus. He loved learning and problem solving, working with tools, and collecting and sharing fine wine. He took great joy in pursuing these interests both in San Antonio and at his summer home in Nantucket. He was predeceased by his brother, Joshua Zinn; his sister, Claire Yakhin; and his beloved aunt, Billie Muss. Of all his accomplishments, he was proudest of his family. He is survived by Betty, his loving wife of 49 years; his children, Dr. Philip and Lee Zinn, Bertrand Zinn, Dr. Andrew and Lizzy Zinn, and Antonio Panetta and Dr. Dorothy Zinn-Panetta; his grandchildren, Odile and Pauline Panetta and Chandler and Alexander Zinn;brother, Leonard Zinn and wife Sandy; sister-in-law, Roslyn Zinn; brother-in-law, Ezra Yakhin; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. We are richer for his time spent with us.