William Yahr's Obituary
YAHRWilliam Zachary, prominent Miami Beach cardiovascular surgeon, passed away peacefully in his home Thursday, September 15th after valiantly fighting brain cancer. Dr. Yahr (Bill) will be missed as much for his generosity, skill and intelligence as for his sense of humor, kindness, and cowboy boots. Son of Harry and Beatrice Yahr, Bill was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1937, attended Dartmouth College for undergraduate studies and then graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1961. A pioneer in various aspects of heart surgery, Dr. Yahr helped develop the intra-aortic balloon pump as part of Dr. Adrian Kantrowitz's team in New York. He brought the pump to Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach the 1970s, where he practiced with Drs. Jack Greenberg, Manuel Sivina, and Charles Byrd, and was vice-chairman of the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery department. Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Yahr patented an ambidextrous clamp in 1965. His groundbreaking research in the use of lasers to aide surgery was highlighted in Life Magazine that same year. Dr. Yahr was described as "cool and collected" in the operating room by his colleagues; by his patients he was known as "dedicated." He'd arrive at 5:30 in the morning come rain or shine to make rounds. Dr. Yahr's competence and intelligence was matched only by his caring, humility, and quality of character. His commitment to help others was paramount to him. Aside from being an avid lover of all things science (he never needed a manual to fix anything), Bill collected classic convertible cars (such as his 1966 GTO convertible), fountain pens, and antique clocks. Everyone who knew Bill had a great story to tell about him, and it is the hope his memory lives on through the many lives he touched, saved, and affected so very positively. Above all, Bill was a terrific friend and outstanding father. His children and grandchildren meant the world to him, as he did to them. Loving father of Elizabeth (Robert) Southard, Harriette and Alexander, cherished grandfather of Ashley and Ryan, loving brother of Peter, loving uncle of Lisa, Erica, and Marc, Bill will be sorely missed. The world has lost a unique, wonderful man.In lieu of flowers donations can go to the William Zachary Yahr MD Endowment for Children's Heart Health. Donations can be made to the Community Foundation of Broward, memo Yahr Fund. 1401 East Broward Blvd., Suite 100, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301. Chapel Services 2:00 p.m. TODAY, September 15, 2011 at BLASBERG-RUBIN-ZILBERT720-71st St., Miami Beach(305) 865-2353
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