Jack Grundfest
Jack Grundfest, 97, of Belleville died June 18, 2014. He was born in Kearny, where he lived before moving to Belleville 56 years ago.
Dr. Grundfest was medical director at West Hudson Hospital and served as chief of surgery at West Hudson Hospital in Kearny, Clara Maas Hospital in Belleville, and St. James Hospital in Newark. He held the position of assistant clinical professor of surgery at NJ College of Medicine.
He graduated from Kearny High School and received a BA from New York University and an MD from University of Arkansas School of Medicine in 1943. He interned at the U.S. Marine Hospital in Staten Island. After World War II he underwent further training at Indianapolis City Hospital and at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx.
He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
He served as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps on Saipan during World War II, and became Deputy Surgeon of the Western Pacific Base Command. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the American Theatre Campaign Medal, and the Victory Medal.
Active in the community, he was a member of the men’s clubs of Congregations Ahavath Achim and Ner Tamid. He was a Commander of Amvets Post 43 and Surgeon General of Amvets for the State of New Jersey. He was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club and served as a president of the Belleville chapter. He sponsored the Belleville Rotary Merit Awards for Scholastic Achievement at Belleville High School. He was a trustee of the Essex County United Fund, was a staunch supporter of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and contributed to many other charitable organizations, including the Belleville Foundation.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Karolyn Scott Grundfest; his daughter, Sharon Grundfest-Broniatowski of Cleveland; his son, Warren of Los Angeles; two grandsons; and a great-grandson.
Services were held June 22 with arrangements by Jewish Memorial Chapel, Clifton. Memorial contributions may be made to New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Belleville Public Library, or Temple Ner Tamid.
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