In Memoriam: Dr. Louis E. Fettig, Charter Member of the Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club
LOUIS E. FETTIG, 98, Obstetrician-Gynecologist and USAF Captain, affectionately known as "Opa", of Charlotte, NC, formerly of Potomac, MD, died Sunday, August 30, 2015 after a brief illness. Born June 21, 1917 in Phila., PA, he was a son of the late Mr. Louis and Bertha Weiser Fettig. He was a graduate of Penn State University with a major in Chemistry in 1943. Afterwards he graduated in medicine from Hahnemann Medical College in 1947 and University of Pennsylvania Post Graduate School of Medicine in 1952. He was the OB coordinator for the National Institute of Health Cerebral Palsy project at Pennsylvania Hospital from 1959-1964 and director of the OB/GYN outpatient department. In addition, he served on the staffs at George Washington University Medical Center, Washington Hospital Center, Holy Cross Hospital, Doctor's Hospital, Shady Grove Hospital and Washington Adventist in Obstetrics and Gynecology for over 25 years. At George Washington University, Dr. Fettig served as an Associate Clinical Professor in OBGYN in addition to working in private practice. He was drafted as a lieutenant in World War II and served in the Army Medical Corps and later obligated to service as a Captain in the USAF during the Korean War. At that time he was Chief of the OBGYN Department for the Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Ramey Air force Base, Puerto Rico. Dr. Fettig was a 32 degree Mason of the Frankford Lodge No. 292 Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, a member of the Scottish Rite of Allentown, PA, the National Sojourners, the AMA, the Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club, the Penn State Alumni Association and Alpha Chi Sigma- Nu Chapter.We will never see the likes and shining light of Opa again but we will always remember him in our hearts. Opa's main driver was to be the "Best of the Best." He valued hard work and education and taught his children and grandchildren to always do their best. Opa did not like being in retirement but he made the most of this time by reading and following the stock market. When asked what he missed most about his work he said, "handing the baby to the mother after delivery and seeing the smile on her face." Opa acknowledged that he would not have reached his station in life without standing on the broad shoulders of those who came before him, mainly his parents; his mother who saved the family money, so that he could go to school, his father who passed the proceeds of his father's home to him, so that he could attend medical school. He liked to reference Dr. Kimbrough's lectures from the University of Pennsylvania stating that "No Man is an Island." It is with this poem by John Donne that we remember our Dear Husband, Father & Grandfather known as Opa. No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thy friend's, Or of thine own were: Any man's death diminishes me, Because I am involved in mankind, And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.
Dr. Fettig is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Emma E. Fettig; son Louis E. Fettig Jr.; daughter, Elizabeth F. Tunnell; daughter-in-law; Cynthia C. Fettig and son-in-law; Wade R. Tunnell, four grandchildren, Thatcher Louis Fettig, Madelyn Clare Fettig, Emma Delaine Tunnell, Meredith Louise Tunnell, his sister Rose Edwards of Moorestown, NJ, his nephew Glen Edwards and Nancy Edwards of Southampton, PA and niece Dr. Linda Edwards and Dr. Jeff Lynch of Medford, NJ. A Memorial Service will be held in the near future at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 7730 Bradley Blvd. Bethesda, MD 20817. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Emmanuel Lutheran Church. [from legacy.com]