Dr. Donald McKaba – 83 – of Pompton Plains, NJ passed away Monday April 16, 2018 in the loving home of his son. Don was born on March 2, 1935 in Brooklyn, NY. He attended Washington and Lee University from which he graduated with a B S degree and Phi Beta kappa and Magna Cum Laude. He moved onto Johns Hopkins Medical School and graduated at the top of his class in 1960. He served his internship and residency at Bellevue Hospital and then served in the US Air Force as Captain stationed at the San Palbo USAF Hospital Base in Seville, Spain from 1962-64. He moved from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn to New Jersey with his family in 1966 and has lived in the state ever since.
Don started his internal medicine practice specializing in Allergy, Immunology and Asthma in Englewood, NJ in 1966 and practiced continuously until his retirement in 2002. He served as an Associate Professor of Medicine at Cornell University New York Hospital. His decorated career in Medicine saw him named Diplomate and Fellow of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology in 1974, chaired Multiple American Academy of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology Committees, published multiple articles in medical journals and helped grow Englewood Hospital to its current stature. He served as a Board Member of Englewood Hospital and also terms as President of each of the New York and New Jersey Allergy Societies as well as the Board of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and as a committee member of the Respiratory Health Association.
In his personal life, Don was a most ardent NY Football Giants fan and season ticket holder since the 1950’s. In Medical school he worked as a volleyball referee to earn enough money to also afford Baltimore Colts season tickets. So, in 1958 when the greatest game ever played was held, he was actually a season ticket holder to both franchises playing in the game. Don was an avid golfer too. He was a member of White Beeches Golf and Country Club since 1970 and served as President of the Club from 1982-84. He served on the Tri-County and NJ State Golf Associations and was President of the Tri-County Association in 1985-86.
Don was also a spiritual man who actively attended and supported the local Presbyterian churches near his many residences. He was a family man, spending many great times with his son, daughter, their spouses and his grandchildren. He is survived by his son, Donald Jr., his daughter-in-law Mary, his daughter Kimberly and his 6 grandchildren: Nicholas, Victoria, Donald III, Megan, William and Andrew. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 20, 2018 from 2-4PM and 7-9PM at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, NJ. A funeral service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Ramsey, NJ at 10AM on Saturday, April 21, 2018. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org
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