Gerard Kaiser died June 28, 2013, at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he pioneered heart surgeries for young children for almost 40 years.

Born in Brooklyn, he prepared for Princeton at Poly Prep School. The son of a physician, Jerry had an early interest in medicine that led him to major in biology.

He graduated from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed specialty training there in cardiothoracic surgery in 1967. He also had a tour at the National Heart Institute, National Institutes of Health. He began his career in New York but moved to the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Center in 1971. There he developed a center of excellence in pediatric cardiac surgery, circulatory-assist devices, and the artificial-heart program and heart transplant.

Jerry was considered the most influential physician in Miami for the past 40 years. He founded the “Lubb Dubb Club,” an organization for children who had undergone heart surgery that now exceeds 4,000 members.

Jerry began a career in health administration and became chief medical officer of the Jackson Health System. The recipient of awards too numerous to list, he was the one person called when care problems arose.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce; sister Teri; children Beth, Jordan, and Charles ’85; and seven grandchildren. The class extends condolences to them all.

Undergraduate Class of 1954