George R. Minor, MD: 1913 - 2007

George R. Minor M.D., died at his home in Charlottesville, Virginia on Thursday, November 29, 2007, at the age of 94.

Born on October 18, 1913, in Cannel City, Kentucky, he was the son of the late Hugh Minor and Lillie Faulkner, who were both born in Virginia.

He is survived by his younger brother, William F. Minor; his sister-in-law, Maureen Minor; his niece, Margaret Minor Wood of Boston; his nephews, Richard Minor of Dallas and George Minor of Charlottesville; and his grandnieces, Kathryn and Nicola Wood.

He attended high school at Hazel Green Academy of Kentucky, and spent his first two years of college at the University of Arizona. He transferred to the University of Virginia, where he received a B.S in Chemistry in 1936 and his M.D. in 1940. During his residency at University of Virginia, he developed tuberculosis; he served as a staff physician at Blue Ridge Sanitarium during his recovery.

Through these experiences, he became interested in surgery, particularly thoracic surgery. After two years as a thoracic surgery resident at University of Virginia, he spent four years at the University of Michigan under the tutelage of Dr. Alexander, a pioneer in the field. While there, he again contracted tuberculosis and spent six months in bed. Upon his recovery, he went to the University of Illinois as an assistant Professor of Surgery and then returned in 1949 to the University of Virginia as Assistant Professor of Thoracic Surgery. From 1949 until his retirement in 1984, Dr Minor trained scores of residents in General and Thoracic Surgery.

In 1953, he performed the first mitral valve surgery at University of Virginia and was the first to perform several other complex operations between 1950 and 1954. He and Dr. John Guerrant performed the first 200 cardiac catheterizations at University of Virginia. He also established the Endoscopy Suite at University of Virginia. He was promoted to Professor of Thoracic Surgery in 1964 and became Assistant Dean of the Medical School. His professional memberships included the American College of Surgeons, the Society of University Surgeons, the American Thoracic Society, and the Virginia Surgical Society.

Dr. Minor traveled widely throughout his long life. He was seriously injured in an auto accident in Romania in 1970 and was flown home for surgery at University of Virginia, after which he endured many months of operations and rehab. In 1972, Dr. Minor went to Tunisia for two years as an exchange professor with Project Hope,  and did all his teaching in French. He was later a consultant in Taiwan, at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taipei. He retired in 1984, and his many students and colleagues established an endowed Chair of Thoracic Surgery in his name. He continued to see some of his old patients in follow up for some time afterward.

Dr. Minor was a gourmet cook, a world traveler, an exceptional pianist and organist, and spoke several languages. He was very interested in the genealogy of the Minor family and hosted an annual family reunion for many years. He will be mourned by his family and friends, honored by his colleagues, and remembered by his patients.

Dr. Minor’s niece is putting together a collection of reminiscences of him for distribution at the memorial and mail, or e-mail, to those who are not able to attend. If anyone who may be interested in providing a comment, please send to Margaret Minor Wood, AIA, LEED AP at the address below.

Margaret Minor Wood, AIA, LEED AP
98 Magazine Street
Boston, MA  02119
mwood@pinck-co.com