John Michael Rathgeb

John Michael Rathgeb, of Charlottesville, VA, originally of Greensburg, PA, died peacefully on April 27th, 2026, surrounded with love by his family. He was 83 years old. He lived a life defined by his devotion to his family, his faith and his community, his kind, gentle nature, and his compassion in his professional calling as an orthopedic surgeon.

Born on September 15, 1942, in Greensburg, PA to William and Ethel Rathgeb, much of John’s childhood was spent working on the family’s farm, and as a teen delivering Rathgeb’s Dairy milk to countless Greensburg area families. He graduated from Greensburg High School in 1960, and headed to Georgetown University in Washington, DC, from where he graduated with a degree in Biology in 1964. It was there that he met a nursing student named Brenda McCarthy, who would become the love of his life. They were married in 1968, shortly before he graduated from Georgetown University Medical School.

After completing his years of surgical training in 1973, John returned to Greensburg to begin his career as an Orthopedic Surgeon at Westmoreland Hospital, eventually serving as the Assistant Medical Director. He and Brenda raised their 5 children down the street from the house he grew up in and built a life there that was dedicated to his family and the entire community. His kindness and compassion were always evident; he treated everyone in the community who needed help, regardless of who could pay - he often came home with freshly baked bread and other delicious homemade treats in lieu of payments by those who could not otherwise afford treatment. Weekend afternoons in the Rathgeb house often saw friends or friends of friends stopping by with x-ray results so he could have a look at their injured knee, or ankle or foot.

As the team physician for nearly 20 years at Greensburg Central Catholic High School, he could always be found on the sidelines at football and basketball games, or teaching coaches and staff from many local teams and organizations about the importance of safety in sports for young people.

In 1992, John moved the family to Baltimore, Maryland, to establish the Orthopedics department at Kaiser Permanente, and later served as the Chief of Orthopedics at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center. In 2007, John was named a Maryland Healthcare Hero finalist in recognition of his positive impact on the quality of health care in his community. During their years in Baltimore, he and Brenda were also actively involved in the development and building of a new parish church, the Catholic Community of St Francis Xavier, where he served as a Eucharistic minister, and where they made many wonderful lifelong friends.

Always recognizing the needs of communities that reached far beyond the borders of where he lived, John’s care and compassion for others led him to share his medical and surgical skills with those who did not have access to the health care that everyone deserves. He traveled to Deschappelles, Haiti, five times to volunteer his services at the Hospital Albert Schweitzer in one of the most medically underserved communities in the western hemisphere. Over the course of many years and family vacations to Hilton Head Island, SC, John also served the local communities in his work treating patients with Volunteers in Medicine for those who could not otherwise afford medical care.

An avid amateur historian, when he had a quiet moment, John could often be found reading the latest books and articles about US History, mostly revolving around the US Civil War. Every summer vacation routed the family along the battlefields of the Civil War and other notable sites in history, whether it was a 5 mile or 5-hour detour! John honed his historical knowledge over the years and became an expert on the development of modern medicine during the US Civil War, giving lectures around the country to medical students and history buffs alike. He served as a docent for many years at the Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, Maryland, sharing his passion with museum goers, dressed in his ‘Silly War costume, to quote one of his young grandchildren, of a doctor in the Union Army.

John’s happiest place to be at the family’s cabin at Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. It is there that the family enjoyed many of their fondest memories together over the past 44 years, whether it be sparklers and s’mores around the campfire; taking ‘Papa’s boat’ to get ice cream and watch the 4th of July fireworks, walks to the dam or even going stir crazy together in the cabin on any given rainy weekend. In 2006, in his ‘retirement’, he and Brenda moved full-time to Garrett County Maryland, and ran a local Bed and Breakfast, the Oak and Apple, where they treated their many guests like family, with John often serving up his famous sourdough pancakes. He also managed to ‘unretire’ from medicine there, as he worked part time with a local orthopedic surgeon for 10 years, to support the community around him. He also played active roles in the Garrett County Historical Society, the Greater Oakland Business Association and the B&O Railroad Station Committee during their time in Garrett County.

The pride and joy of John and Brenda’s life together was the large and loving family they raised and delighted in being with. He loved the title of ‘Papa’ above all of his others. He took an active interest in the lives and careers of his 5 children, their spouses and his eleven grandchildren. They loved to travel and explored much of the world together, but their favorite travel destinations were to wherever their children and grandchildren lived, went to school, played sports and performed in concerts and school shows.

In their later years, John and Brenda relocated to Charlottesville, VA, to be closer to family. Like all other times in his life, John and Brenda enjoyed great happiness in their involvement with the community they found there, from his Rock Steady Boxing for Parkinson’s exercise classes to their participation in many fundraisers for Parkinson’s research, and many special one on one times and walks with his local granddaughter, Lillie.

John is survived by his wife of 58 years, Brenda; his five children, Katie (David) Wagoner, of Collegeville, PA; Brian (Colleen) of Owings, MD; Betsy (Brad) Snyder of London, England, Michael (Marit) of Smith Mountain Lake, VA and Bridgid (Jason) Eversole, of Charlottesville, VA, and his 11 grandchildren, Meghan, Cailin and Sean Wagoner, William and Maggie Rathgeb, Owen, Brennan and Amelia Snyder, Annie and Jack Rathgeb, and Lillie Eversole; and by his two brothers, Monsignor William Rathgeb of Greensburg, PA and Thomas (Jody) Rathgeb of Richmond, VA. A Visitation will be held at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church on Friday May 1 at 1:30 pm followed by a Funeral Mass at 3:00pm, with a visitation and burial service to be held in Greensburg, PA at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Parkinson’s Area Resource Center in Charlottesville or The Mortel High Hopes for Haiti Foundation, two organizations close to his heart.