Our son Lee had been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect which would need surgical repair to allow him to have a normal life expectancy. The surgery was performed successfully at Deborah Heart Hospital in New Jersey in 1982 (or so) when Lee was 6 years old. Of course Lee’s grandmother Rhea spoke to Victor about the surgery, and he responded with great support. When he had been an active heart surgeon, he had been on the the staff at Deborah. He came to visit Lee at Deborah, where he was greeted with an effusive welcome by so many of the current staff. He arranged with Lee’s surgeon, Dr. Kathy MacNicholas, for him to witness the operation. She was thrilled to have him present, particularly because her father had been an anesthetist who had worked with Vic, and had always referred to him with glowing terms. Vic later told us that he had asked to witness the operation because he knew that the surgeon would then perform all aspects of the surgery herself, and not hand off any of it to a trainee. Even long after retiring, Vic did all he could to make sure that Lee had the best medical care.

Burt and Barbara Abrams