48 March 21 • 2019
jn
48 March 21 • 2019
jn

D

avid Madgy, a pediatric surgeon known 
for his good humor and sense of adven-
ture, died March 9, 2019, after a years-
long struggle with cancer. He was 61.
Born Nov. 1, 1957, Dr. Madgy attended 
Southfield-Lathrup High School, the University 
of Michigan and the College of 
Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, 
Iowa. He decided to become a physician 
after he had open-heart surgery at age 
15. A residency in general surgery at 
Oakland General Hospital in Madison 
Heights sparked his interest in pediat-
rics, which led to a pediatric otolaryn-
gology fellowship at Children’
s Hospital 
of Michigan, where he worked for 25 
years.
He was specialist-in-chief for otolaryngology 
at the Detroit Medical Center and an attending 
physician at Harper University, Providence and 
William Beaumont hospitals. He held many 
medical leadership positions, including presi-
dent of the American Osteopathic Colleges of 
Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head and 
Neck Surgery.
Dr. Madgy, who lived in Franklin, was a 
professor of otolaryngology at Michigan State 
University and a volunteer clinical faculty mem-
ber at Wayne State University’
s medical school. 
He published dozens of journal articles and book 
chapters and made numerous presentations.
He had a side job as the “Rock Doc” at DTE 

Music Theatre in Clarkston, on call to visiting 
celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis 
Jr., Bon Jovi and Natalie Cole.
He also secured a pilot’
s license so he could 
transport patients via air ambulance. He never 
let finances stand in the way of care, never turn-
ing away a family with limited means 
to pay. He helped create Michigan State 
University’
s clinic in Malawi and partic-
ipated in medical missions there for 10 
years. He also volunteered his services in 
Peru.
“David stood for balance, efficiency, 
perfectionism,” said Rabbi Joseph Krakoff 
of Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy 
Network, who delivered the eulogy at Dr. 
Madgy’
s funeral. 
He said Dr. Madgy had a “wonderful sense of 
humor, peppered with silliness, goofiness and 
lots and lots of teaching” and was the most loyal 
friend a person could want. He drew people in, 
made them laugh and put them at ease, while 
teasing them in a good-natured way. He liked to 
summarize his job as a pediatric ear, nose and 
throat specialist as “boogers and snot.”
His greatest love was his children, who 
described him as the “coolest dad ever.” Danielle 
said he always sent large amounts of candy to 
her at camp, even though it was strictly against 
the rules. And Devin remembers how his dad 
bought him boots with boosters in them before 
a family trip to Cedar Point when he was young, 

so he would be tall enough to get on the rides. He 
taught them to ski and play tennis, and cooked 
his signature turkey burgers, salmon and “amaz-
ing” kugel for family meals.
His nieces and nephews enjoyed going with 
him to local sporting events, where he always 
seemed to have great seats. Uncle David wanted 
to know all about their love interests, so he could 
give them advice and counsel. 
Dr. Madgy loved to travel and took his fam-
ily on trips to Antarctica, Japan, New Zealand, 
Australia, Thailand, Germany, Peru and Aspen. 
In 2014, he and his children spent eight days 
climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. He was often late for 
airport departures, but somehow was able to talk 
his way onto the plane after the jetway doors had 
been closed — once after the jetway itself had 
been pulled back.
He had an immense joie de vivre (joy of life) 
and was inspired by life, said his brother-in-law 
Sheldon Cohn. “I became inspired just being 
around him.” Cohn said when he told people he 
was Dr. Madgy’
s brother-in-law, they would “just 
light up.”
He wanted his friends and loved ones to know 
he lived a good life and believed he left the Earth 
just a little better than he found it, Krakoff said.
Dr. Madgy was the son of the late Max and 
the late Phyllis Madgy. He is survived by two of 
his triplet children, Danielle Tara of New York 
and Devin Elon of Franklin; a second son, Dylon 
Jason, died in 2011 at age 18. He is also survived 
by his sisters, Elyse Friedman of California and 
Barbara (Sheldon) Cohn of West Bloomfield; 
niece Victoria Friedman (Pablo Cantero); neph-
ews, Anthony Friedman, Jonathan Cohn and 
Jeremy Cohn.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. 
Memorial donations may be made to the Madgy 
Family Fund at Detroit Country Day School, 
22305 W. 13 Mile Road, Beverly Hills, MI 48025. 
Arrangements were by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ■

Pediatric Surgeon and 
World Traveler with an 
Infectious Sense of Humor

BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

soul

of blessed memory

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