Obituary - Dr Richard Foregger

1912 to 2010

Of Milwaukee, WI, age 97, died on May 7, 2010, in Wauwatosa, WI, after a short illness.

Richard was born on October 30, 1912 in Roslyn, NY, to Richard and Dorothy (nee Ledwith) von Foregger, and grew up in New Rochelle, NY.  He earned his BA at the University of Virginia, received his medical degree from Marquette University Medical School, interned at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, and served his anesthesiology residency at the University of Wisconsin Medical School under Dr. Ralph Waters. He was named a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Anesthetists, England.

He was a front line anesthesiologist with the Third Auxiliary Surgical Group in the US Army during World War II, first serving in England, and then participating in the Normandy Invasion and the campaigns in northwest Europe. He was one of the first Americans to arrive in Paris after its liberation by General LeClerc, and retired from the army as a Major. He was instrumental in introducing to the United States several new anesthesiology advances based on his wartime experiences in England. From 1947 to 1984 he was an anesthesiologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Milwaukee, serving as head of the department from 1956 to 1963.

Richard was an avid learner and took college courses well into his seventies.  He enjoyed doing research on many topics, especially World War II and the Holocaust, and was the author of 2 books and over 80 scientific and military history publications.

He was predeceased in death by his brother, John Herbert Foregger.  He is survived by his sons Thomas (Marsha), of Berkeley Heights, NJ, Joseph (Mary) of Plainfield, IL, and Michael (Susan), of Cedarburg, WI, his daughter Jane Foregger of Chicago, IL, and five grandchildren.   Visitation Saturday, May 22, at the Funeral Home from 10:00 AM until time of Memorial Service and full Military Honors at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers Memorials to the American Cancer Society appreciated.