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Dr. Donald Jack Furman

Donald Jack Furman died Dec. 22, 2020, at his residence at Chelsea Place in Aurora, Colo., of compli-cations from COVID-19.

He was born Aug. 16, 1929, in Waynesburg, Pa., the son of Donald Clark Furman and Helen Irene Spragg. He spent his early childhood in Waynesburg before the family moved to Mt. Lebanon in Pittsburgh in 1937, where he graduat-ed from high school in 1947.

Jack attended the University of Pittsburgh as a commuter student, major-ing in pre-medical studies. He took two streetcars each way for an hour to get to school. He played the Sou-saphone in the Pitt March-ing Band, and was a 3-time letterman on the varsity ri-fle team. After just three years of undergraduate study, Jack was admitted to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Jack was a significant supporter of Pitt, both academics and athletics, his entire life.

In December 1953, Jack was working at Shadyside Hospital in his final year of medical school when he castigated a young nurse for breaking an instrument. She responded with a re-quest for a ride home. Jack married Kathryn Ann Moslener five months later.

Upon graduation (and a brief honeymoon in Ni-agara Falls), Jack enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Kathy came home with a poodle and named her Bon Bon, and they packed Jack’s old Ford Coup for training stints in Texas and Alabama. He was com-missioned a captain and sta-tioned at Westover Air Force Base in western Mas-sachusetts. Jack served as a flight surgeon for the 4050th Air Refueling Wing within the Strategic Air Command. During his ser-vice, he was deployed to Gander, Newfoundland for two months, and led an at-tempt to rescue the crew of refueling tanker that had crashed in the Adirondacks during a snow storm.

After the U.S. Air Force, Jack and Kathy returned to Pittsburgh in 1957 where Jack finished his internship and began a residency in pathology at Shadyside Hospital. He was consid-ering several employment opportunities when his classmate, Jack Harrington, called to say there was a pathology job in his home town of Warren, Pa. Jack became the laboratory director at Warren General Hospital on Jan. 1, 1963, and “Harrington” (as dad called him) became his life-long friend. In 1970, he took over the same role at WCA Hospital, in James-town, N.Y., and managed both laboratories until his retirement. In 1974, he started a school for labora-tory technicians at WCA Hospital in conjunction with Gannon College.

Throughout his time in Warren, Jack gave gen-erously of his time to vari-ous organizations. He served on major hospital committees at both hospi-tals. He was a tireless and effective fundraiser for both hospitals, often finding the money himself to make much needed investments in technology. He ran a Cub Scout pack for several years, and taught Sunday school to teenagers when his children were young. He also had a long-standing relationship with the Canc-er Society. He was humble, and generous in all these roles.

Jack had a passion for sailing. He bought his first sailboat in 1969. He began racing twice a week at the Chautauqua Lake Yacht Club. After Jack and Kathy retired to Chautauqua Insti-tute, he continued racing into his 70s.

Jack fully embraced re-tirement at Chautauqua In-stitute. He loved the lec-tures, often calling one offspring or another to tell them about a lecture or a recital. When Kathy be-came deeply involved in the Chautauqua Opera, he became her supporting spouse. He attended many operas and co-hosted gath-erings with Kathy for artists and staff.

In their later years, Jack and Kathy permanently moved to their condo in Cortez, Fla., where they spent many hours on their veranda watching the birds and the wildlife. Jack took up watercolor painting, and in a flurry of creativity pro-duced a portfolio of paint-ings that friends and family enjoyed.

After Kathy died, Jack lived first in Lake Forest, Ill., and then in Denver, Colo. Jack was preceded in death by Kathryn, his wife of 57 years; and his sister, Joan Furman Seekins.

He is survived by his children: Donald (Kim) Vashon Island, Wash., De-bra, Lake Forest, Ill., John (David) San Francisco, Cal-if. Amy (Marcia) Silver Spring, Md., and Chris (Nicole) Denver, Colo; and seven grandson: Alex Din-truff, Seattle, Jack Dintruff, Palo Alto, Sam Dintruff, Chicago, Henry Furman, New York, and Ryan, Jack and William Furman, Denver.

Due to the pandemic, a service will be scheduled at a later time. The family suggests that those wanting to remember Jack could contribute to the Alzheimer’s Society.