Dr. George Reily Moffitt, Jr.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Moffitt home, New Cumberland, on Sunday, August 6th, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please provide an act of kindness in honor of George or donate to your favorite charity.

Dr. George Reily Moffitt, Jr., who treated thousands of Pennsylvanians for heart ailments over the course of a 50-year career, died peacefully at his New Cumberland home on Thursday, May 25. He was 99.

Dr. Moffitt, a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, began practicing medicine in the Harrisburg area in 1955. In 1968, he formed a cardiology practice under the name of Moffitt, Pease & Lim Associates with Drs. William E. Pease and Heng F. Lim. Later known as Moffitt Heart & Vascular Group and today UPMC Heart & Vascular Institute.

A Lt. Jr. Grade in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Dr. Moffitt served with the Marines during the Korean War. As battalion surgeon with the 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Dr. Moffitt participated in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, where American forces were trapped by some 120,000 Chinese troops in the mountains near the border with China. It took 17 days in November and December 1950 for Marine and Army units to fight their way out during the storied 70-mile "advance to the rear" in 25 below-zero temperatures.

For his service in Korea, Dr. Moffitt was awarded the Bronze Star with V (valor) device, the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Korea Theater Medal with one battle star. He was a member of the Chosin Few, an organization of veterans of the battle.

Dr. Moffitt was born on April 17,1924, the son of Lillian (Johnston) and George Reily Moffitt, M.D., a pathologist. He grew up in Harrisburg and graduated from the Hill School in Pottstown, Pa., before going on to Princeton. After the war, he settled outside Carlisle to raise a family and build his practice.

During his career, he was appointed to the staffs of Carlisle Hospital, Polyclinic Hospital, Holy Spirit Hospital and Harrisburg Hospital, where he served as Chief of Cardiology and former president of the medical staff. He was a Clinical Professor of Medicine (emeritus) of the Penn State University College of Medicine.

He was also former president of both the Dauphin County Medical Society and the Harrisburg Academy of Medicine; a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the American Medical Society and the American College of Cardiology, Pennsylvania Chapter (former secretary-treasurer); and a Fellow of both the American College of Physicians and the American College of Cardiology.

After retirement, he volunteered as a cardiology consultant at the Hamilton Health Center.

Dr. Moffitt was an active participant in community groups. He served on the Tri-County Heart Association Board (former president), the Harrisburg Academy Board of Trustees, the Concertante Board and the Harrisburg Area Community College Foundation. He volunteered with the United Way. He had a deep interest in local history and enjoyed giving talks at the Dauphin County Historical Society. He was active in the West Shore Kiwanis Club. George loved spending time with his family and was passionate about fly fishing.

He is survived by his loving wife Ann, to whom he was married for more than 40 years; his three sons and a daughter by a former marriage to Sigrid Richter: Michael of Pacifica, Calif., David (Nancy) of Pottstown, Pa., Stephen (Sandra), and Jennifer of San Francisco, Calif.; a stepdaughter Elizabeth Gatten (Kenneth); grandchildren Emily Scricca, Matthew and Chloe; step-grandsons Kenneth and Joshua Gatten; and a great-granddaughter, Bailey Scricca. A sister, Charlotte Troup, preceded him in death.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Moffitt home, New Cumberland, on Sunday, August 6th, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please provide an act of kindness in honor of George or donate to your favorite charity.

www.parthemore.com