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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