Lorence Kircher Obituary

Lorence Tobias Kircher, Jr., M.D., 84, known as Larry, passed away on October 26, 2007. From riding his pony to a one-room country school, to performing the first open-heart surgery in Colorado Springs, Larry was an unassuming, dedicated, and hard-working man. He was born in Pleasant Hill, Missouri on April 24, 1923, to Lorence and Oma Kircher. He graduated from Pleasant Hill High School where he played the trombone in the band and acquired a lifelong love of classical music. He attended the University of Missouri, where he met and married his wife Shirley Ann Evans. World War II accelerated the need for doctors, and Larry transferred to Northwestern Medical School, where he was a member of the Nu Sigma Nu medical fraternity and the Alpha Omega Honor Society. Following his graduation in 1946, he completed a six month fellowship in pathology at Chicago's Cook County Hospital before starting a two year internship at the same hospital. With his growing family he moved to Denver in July of 1949 to begin a surgical residency at the University of Colorado Medical Center. In 1952, Larry was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base Hospital in Denver where he became Chief of Surgery. Two years following, he returned to the University of Colorado Medical Center to complete two more years of surgical training. While there, he researched the effects of using hypothermia during heart surgery under Dr. Henry Swan, M.D., whereby a bathtub was filled with ice surrounding the patient to slow the heart during the operation. In July of 1955 Larry began his practice of general surgery in Colorado Springs, sharing it with Dr. Edward B. Liddle. In the early years, Larry made rounds twice a day, seven days a week, at three hospitals (Penrose, St. Francis and Memorial), believing that it was necessary for good patient care. Larry became a diplomate of the American College of Surgery in 1958 and was named a Colorado Governor for the ACS a few years later. He performed the first open heart surgery in Colorado Springs at Penrose Hospital in 1964. Larry was a member of the Colorado State Board of Medical Examiners for many years, and was also the president of the Downtown Rotary Club and the El Paso County Medical Society. He was a proud and active lifelong member of the Colorado Springs Clinical Club. He retired from full practice of surgery in 1983 and assisted the Colorado Springs Surgical Associates until 1993. Larry and his wife enjoyed many Elder Hostel trips and spending time together at their second home in Santa Fe. He leaves his wife of 62 1/2 years Shirley, their three children Mary Susan (John Wagner), Tobias III (Summer), and Katherine Anne (Michael Dye), as well as five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Larry was a loving and humble man who adored his family and for whom medicine was of the highest calling. He was much loved and will be sorely missed. Memorial contributions may be made to the Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation for care of cardiovascular patients at 961 East Colorado Avenue, 80903, or at www.PSFFound.org. A Memorial Service is planned for November 10th at 10am, at First United Methodist Church, 420 North Nevada Avenue.