Dr. James Gordon Rich

Dr. James Gordon Rich, passed away Friday after a long battle with cancer. He practiced orthopedic surgery in this area since 1972. Dr. Rich was born in Chicago, IL, May 17, 1934. He was raised in the upper mid-west and in Charlotte, NC. He graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1952. He obtained an undergraduate degree from Duke University in Durham, NC in 1956 and was awarded the MD and MS degrees from the University of Chicago in 1960. He obtained training in general surgery at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, and on the former Harvard Surgical Service at Boston City Hospital. His training in orthopedic surgery was obtained at the Harvard Combined Othopedic Surgical Residency Program, and included residency positions at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Peter Bent and Robert Breck Brigham Hospitals and the Boston Children's Hospital Medical Center.

In 1967 he was drafted into the United States Army Medical Corps, during the Vietnam War. He held the rank of Major and served as an othopedic surgeon at the United States Army Orthopedic Specialized Treatment Center at Fort Gordon, GA, just outside Augusta. His time of service lasted until 1969 during which time he patched up the human wreckage that resulted from the unfortunate conflict.

After discharge from the Army, he was a member of the full time faculty at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. In 1972 Dr. Rich came to Springfield to engage in the private practice of orthopedic surgery in association with Dr. Elmer Franseen, and worked with Dr. Franseen until the latter's retirement in 1979. Thereafter, Dr. Rich practiced independently for the most part, although he worked in association with Dr. Leonard Wagner from 1982 to 1988. Dr. Rich was on the medical staffs of Baystate Medical Center and Mercy Hospital. He had also served on the staffs of Providence Hospital, Noble Hospital and Ludlow Hospital. He served as chief of orthopedic surgery at Baystate Medical Center (North Campus) and as Director of Rehabilitation Services at Baystate Medical Center (North Campus). He served as chief of orthopedic surgery at Mercy Hospital. He was a past president of the Hampden District Medical Society. He was an advocate of the interests of private practice physicians and their patients. In this capacity he sometimes crossed swords with hospital administrators, health plan administrators, politicians and the like. He was a member of the American Medical Association, Hampden District Medical Society and the Massachusetts Medical Society. He was a diplomat of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Through his affiliation with Baystate Medical Center, he served as an Associate Clinical Professor of orthopedic surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine.

As the socio-economic environment for the practice of medicine became increasingly more difficult, Dr. Rich engaged in sporadic guerilla warfare against the forces of evil and darkness who wished to denigrate, diminish and demean the healing profession to which he devoted his working lifetime. He retired from active practice in 1999.

He is suvived by his wife of 43 years Audrey Higgins Rich, a son James Allan Rich of Springfield, a daughter Marilyn Ruth Rich of Portland, OR and a daughter Karen Rich of New York City. He enjoyed the company of two vibrant sons-in-law: John Funk and Charles Garcia.

A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, December 2, at 1 p.m. at the First Congregational Church at the corner of Lathrop and Park Street in West Springfield-just off the traffic circle on the West Springfield side of the North End Bridge. It is requested that flowers not be sent. In lieu of flowers and such, money contributions to either Baystate Medical Center, Department of Surgery, 280 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or Mercy Hospital Department of Surgery, 299 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or Hospice of Pioneer Valley, P.O. Box 9058, Springfield, MA 01102-9058 will be gratefully acknowledge. Burial will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Truro, MA at the convenience of the family. WEST SPRINGFIELD Curran-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Published by Boston Globe on Nov. 27, 2001.

02/23/2023 EJS