Dr. Joe E. Conrad

Dr. Joe Elvin Conrad, age 92, of 11 Deep Creek Road, Hegins, passed away Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at his home. He was born on September 21, 1917, in Valley View, a son of the late Elvin Conrad and Jennie Vada (Miller) Conrad. He was baptized in the United Brethren Church in Valley View in 1918 and graduated from Hegins Twp High School in 1935. Joe went on to graduate from Lebanon Valley College with a degree in biology in 1941 and Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia with a degree in medicine in 1943. Dr. Conrad worked numerous jobs both prior to beginning college and while in college. These jobs included brush cutter, miner, construction worker, and worker at the Hershey Chocolate Factory. Joe married his high school sweetheart, Marie Gertrude Miller, on Christmas Eve 1943. Dr. Conrad enlisted in the Army at the beginning of medical school and upon completion became a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserve. Following an internship at the Harrisburg Hospital he converted to active duty and served in the Pacific Theater during the conclusion of World War II beginning as a First Lieutenant. He completed his basic training at Fort Meade, MD and his basic medical training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio TX. He was deployed on three tours of duty in the Pacific, serving as the Chief Medical Officer aboard separate ships each time. His first voyage was out of Fort Mason San Francisco aboard the USS Pittstown Victory, a troop transport ship, and traveled to Yokohama through Honolulu before returning to Seattle where the ship was decommissioned. It was there where Dr. Conrad transferred to the USS Chanute Victory and returned to Yokohama and Okinawa, Japan. His final voyage was upon the USS Admiral Simms, an 80 bed hospital ship, which docked in South Korea, Philippines and finally Japan. On this voyage the ship "ran-aground" in Yokohama bay while returning Japanese war prisoners to home. Following repairs, the ship returned home to California at half-speed and Dr. Conrad completed his military service at the rank of Captain. After spending some time with his brother, Dr. Chester Conrad, in Los Angeles, he returned his family back to Pennsylvania. In 1947 he began private practice in Schuylkill Haven and was on staff at the Good Samaritan Hospital, Lemos B. Warne Clinic, Ashland Hospital, and Locust Mountain Hospital. During this time he practiced general medicine, performed minor operations, and delivered numerous babies. In 1953 he was asked to report back to the military for active duty, but after selling his home and medical practice, the Army sent him a telegram notifying him that he was no longer required to report for duty. At that point, Dr Conrad continued is post-graduate training at the Reading Hospital, where he completed a residency in Radiology under the direction of the prominent radiologist, Dr. George Chamberlain. He became board certified in radiology in 1958 and was a diplomat of the American College of Radiology. Dr. Conrad was appointed to the staff of the Good Samaritan Hospital where he rose to the rank of Chief of Radiology in 1958. He held this position until his semi-retirement in 1984. Under his tenure as Chief of Radiology he began Departments of Radiation Therapy (1957), Mammography (1969), Nuclear Medicine (1970), Ultrasound (1971), Computerized Tomography and Body Imaging (1978), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (1979). During this time Dr. Conrad became recognized as one of the leading national experts on coal workers pneumoconiosis ("black lung"). Following his semi-retirement, Dr. Conrad continued on staff in the Department of Radiology for almost another 20 years before completely retiring at the age of 85. In addition to the Good Samaritan Hospital, Dr. Conrad also served on staff at the Ashland Hospital, Warne Cancer Hospital, Locust Mountain Hospital, and the Tri-Valley Medical Center over the course of his radiology career. Dr. Conrad was a member of the American Medical Association, Pan-American Medical Society, Pennsylvania Medical Society, Schuylkill County Medical Society, American College of Radiology, Phi Rho Sigma Medical Society (Life Member), Radiological Society of North American, Roentgen and Radium Society, Pennsylvania Radiological Society, American College of Nuclear Medicine, Pennsylvania College of Nuclear Medicine, and the American Society of Medical Imaging. Despite his outstanding career, Joe's greatest attribute was his loving devotion to his family. He was preceded in death by a grandson Danny Joe Rothermel, a step grandson Daniel Barnes. He is survived by his wife, Marie G (Miller) Conrad, to whom he was married for 66 years. He is also survived by two daughters, F Diane Wolfgang widow of Harold "Buddy" of Hegins, and Claire M Barnes and her husband Michael of Hegins; three grandsons, Dr Christopher L Wolfgang of Baltimore, MD, Douglas M Wolfgang of Harrisburg, and Travis J Rothermel of Hegins; three great-granddaughters, Whitney M Wolfgang of Baltimore, MD, Madison M Rothermel of Hegins, and Gabrielle E Rothermel of Hegins; a great-grandson, Joseph Conrad Wolfgang of Baltimore; and a sister, June Isabelle Spokus of Avalon, NJ. A private memorial will be held at the convenience of the family. Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Valley View, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences can be left for the family at www.buffingtonreed.com.

Dr. Joe E. Conrad

September 21, 1917 - February 23, 2010