DORSEY, Dr. Joseph F. – Of Wellesley formerly of Belmont. Prominent neurosurgeon in the Boston area; born 10/27/13 in Memphis, Tennessee passed away January 8, 2011 from leukemia. He received his MD degree from the University of Tennessee Medical School in 1937 and completed residencies and fellowship training at Boston City Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital in CT. He performed the first neurosurgery at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in 1948 and served as the chief of Neurosurgery until 1977. At the same time he was an assistant professor at Tuft’s Medical School and clinical assistant at Harvard. Additionally, he performed neurosurgery at a number of hospitals across New England and served as chief of neurological surgery at Sancta Maria Hospital until 1985. His many achievements include being a founding member and past president of the Neurological Society of America, past president of the Middlesex South Medical Society and the New England Neurological Society. He became a Diplomat in the International Society of Surgeons and volunteered his expertise for Project Hope in Nicaragua. He remained active as a consultant into his 80’s.
He was preceded in death by his wife Blanche Cooper Dorsey and is survived by his wife Suzanne Stoltmann-Dorsey and by sons Joseph of Florida, Paul of Vermont, daughters Jeanne, Jane and Denise all of Massachusetts. In addition he is survived by 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St. (Rt.16) WELLESLEY, Thursday, Jan. 13, at 9 AM. Funeral Mass in St. Paul’s Church, 502 Washington St. Wellesley, at 10 AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Wednesday, Jan. 12, from 4-7 PM. Interment Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Watertown.
In lieu of flowers, donations to support needy medical students at the University of Tennessee would be appreciated. Send contributions to the Dr. Joseph F. Dorsey Memorial Fund at Rockland Bank, 330 B Washington St., Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.