University Times

Professor of surgery Robert J. Corry died Feb. 11, 2002, in his Oakland home. He was 67.

Corry served as director of the pancreas transplant program at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute.

He came to Pitt in 1994 from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics following an 18-year tenure at that institution that included 10 years as its chief of surgery. From 1999 to 2000, he was one of four vice presidents of the medical staff at UPMC Presbyterian.

"In living his life to the fullest, Robb Corry has left a rich harvest: children, grandchildren, friends and a sea of admirers," said Thomas E. Starzl, professor of surgery at the School of Medicine. "His numerous professional contributions to science, medicine and surgery have saved or enriched countless lives and brought him unique recognition and formal distinctions. He will be remembered for the infinite patience, kindness and courage that he displayed equally in confronting adversity or celebrating accomplishments."

A Cleveland native, Corry graduated magna cum laude from Yale University in 1957, where he had been a star halfback on its undefeated and nationally ranked football team. He enrolled in medical school at Johns Hopkins University, graduating in 1961.

Corry completed an internship in pediatrics and surgery at John Hopkins in 1963 before going to the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard University to complete a residency and fellowship in surgery. His academic career began at Harvard in 1968, where he was appointed assistant professor of surgery in 1972.

In 1973, he joined the faculty of the University of Iowa College of Medicine as associate professor of surgery and became director of transplantation at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the VA Medical Center, Iowa City. He was promoted to professor of surgery in 1976 and chief of surgery in 1982, positions he held until arriving at Pitt.

John J. Fung, the Thomas E. Starzl Professor of Surgery and chief of transplant surgery at the Starzl institute, said Corry "was the epitome of the academic surgeon, someone who was respected by his peers and students, committed to excellence in patient care and the science of surgery, someone who persevered in an era of great uncertainty. He was a cornerstone of the transplant program here and will truly be missed."

Corry performed the first combined liver and pancreas excision from a single donor and transplanted the organs into two recipients. He performed more than 350 pancreas transplantations, 180 kidney transplants and 50 liver transplants.

Corry was a member of more than 30 professional societies and organizations.

He served as president of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, 1986-87. An active campaigner for fair organ allocation practices, he served as president the United Network for Organ Sharing in 1989-1990.

Since 1995, Corry also served on the board of directors for the Pittsburgh chapter of the Transplant Recipients International Organization.

Corry's research and clinical interests included exploring methods to control organ rejection and induce tolerance, identifying ways to expand the donor pool, such as using organs from older donors, and working to develop policies for broader sharing of pancreases within the United States.

He is survived by his children, Robert J. Corry Jr. of Denver, Sara Corry Vance of Burlingame, Calif., and Catherine Corry of New York City; a grandson, Hayden Jeffrey Vance; a brother, Scott Edward Corry of Iowa City, and his former wife, Linda Selin Corry.

"He was such a proud and loving father who instilled in us the same value that guided his life — to serve other people," said his daughter Sara.

"He always taught us to try our best," said Robert Jr. "He wanted us to strive for excellence, but excellence with a purpose. And that purpose was to improve people's lives, to make a contribution to society. He loved his patients, colleagues, friends and family."

"We his children loved him deeply and will miss him terribly. He had a wonderful way with people, family, friends and strangers alike, as well as a dry sense of humor and a deep warmth," added Corry's daughter Catherine.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, 3708 Fifth Ave., Suite 400, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213. Contributions will go toward an endowed chair in surgery named in memory of Corry.