Obituary of Joseph Bitsack

BITSACK, Joseph William, MD, of Mahwah passed away Thursday, July 1, 2010. He was 91 years old. Son of the late Edward Louis and Pauline (nee Jacoby), he was born in Wallington on October 18, 1918. Husband of the late Gloria Frisco Bitsack, Joseph was Vice Chairman Emeritus, Department of Surgery, Hackensack University Medical Center, having retired from the active practice of surgery on Oct. 1, 1995. He had been affiliated with the hospital for over 60 years. Dr. Bitsack received a BA from Johns Hopkins University in 1940, and an MD from the University of Maryland Medical School in December, 1943. He completed his Internship at St. Vincent's Hospital, NYC, in June 1944, his surgical residency at St. Vincent's in 1946 and Hackensack Hospital in June, 1949, and his thoracic surgery residency at Triboro Hospital and Queens General Hospital, NYC, in July, 1948. After serving in the Air Force as Captain, Chief of Surgery, Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico, 1951-1953, Dr. Bitsack was reappointed to the medical staff at Hackensack Hospital. He was Acting Director of Surgery 1980-1983, appointed Chief, Thoracic Surgery in 1972, Associate Director of Surgery, 1976. He also served as attending surgeon, Bergen Pines Hospital in Paramus. He was Director of Surgical Education, Department of Surgery, Hackensack University Medical Center. Upon retiring from private practice, Dr. Bitsack was appointed a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry-New Jersey Medical School. He was President of the Bergen County Medical Society, 1980-81, and also served as President, New Jersey Society of Surgeons in 1985. He was awarded Physician of the Year in 1975 by the American Cancer Society. He co-authored numerous publications and articles, including Tracheal Hamartoma, which was published in The American Journal of Medicine and Massive Fibroma of Thorax, published in the New Jersey Journal of Medicine, both in 1986. But of all his accomplishments Dr. Bitsack considered his greatest to be "making Hackensack University Medical Center smoke-free." Joe was a charter member of the recently created Mahwah American Legion Post 531 and a member of the Hackensack Golf Club since 1956. He enjoyed playing golf, racing power boats, gardening, skiing in Vermont and… a dozen oysters with a glass of champagne. Dr. Bitsack is survived by his devoted wife, Patricia Christensen, his loving children Paula Ruckelshaus, Jay, Timothy, Ned and Jeffrey and his adoring grandchildren Devin, Nicole, Jessica, Alyssa and Emily. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 7, 10:15 AM from the Vander Plaat Funeral Home (www.vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff. Funeral Mass will follow 11:00 AM at St. Paul's R.C. Church, 200 Wyckoff Avenue, Ramsey. Cremation will be private. Visiting is Tuesday 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations to Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation, 30 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601 would be appreciated. "IF I DIE TODAY, I HAVE NO REGRETS, FOR I HAVE LIVED A GOOD LIFE." JWB