Obituary of George R Green, MD

Dr. George R. Green of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania died peacefully on January 28, 2024, at The Hill at Whitemarsh. He was 89 years old and lived an extraordinary and full life. He was a devoted husband and father, a healer and mentor, and a singular and authentic individual.

George was born on October 14, 1934, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Frank P. Green and Viola Elizabeth “Peggy” Green (nee Lord). George was their eighth of ten children. He met his great love and lifelong partner, Trudy (Gertrude Mary King) in 1952 and they were married May 19, 1962 in Philadelphia.

George graduated from St. Joseph’s Prep, St. Joseph’s University, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (1962) where he earned Alpha Omega Alpha honors. He completed his internship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in 1963 and his residency in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in 1965. He then completed a fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1966. Being the first of his family to attend college, George was a champion of higher education, and felt great pride in supporting his children and grandchildren through their academic endeavors.

Through a long and accomplished career as a physician, George built a body of work that is difficult to fathom. He had the honor to spend his productive life dedicated to service, science and the greater good.  After completing his training, he joined the staff at Abington Memorial Hospital in 1966 where he practiced in Internal Medicine and his subspecialty of Allergy and Immunology for over 50 years. George was a founding partner of Abington Medical Specialists, a large multispecialty private practice group still thriving today. As a clinician, he was a humble healer and stalwart patient advocate, immeasurably touching countless lives along the way. He held several leadership positions at Abington, including as the Chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology (1970-2005), Chairman of the Medical Education Committee, and Medical Staff President. He also led the utilization department and the development and implementation of case management at Abington, establishing groundwork integral to the function of modern hospitals and health care systems. He was highly regarded in the Philadelphia area, often cited as a “Top Doc” by Philadelphia Magazine.

On a national scale, George left an enduring legacy as a servant-leader. He held key positions in the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and was a delegate and caucus chair to the American Medical Association. In addition, he was a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society Board of Directors, the Pennsylvania Allergy and Asthma Association Board of Directors, the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council Technical advisory group, and served as president of the Philadelphia Medical Society and president of the Philadelphia Allergy Society. 

George also made a lasting contribution to his field through research and publication. Early in his career he authored several important papers investigating the epidemiology of penicillin hypersensitivity and the value of penicillin skin testing in establishing this diagnosis. His report in the Annals of Internal Medicine (1966) on the treatment of bacterial endocarditis in patients with penicillin hypersensitivity remains a definitive work. He remained an active contributor to the area of drug hypersensitivity, with many peer-reviewed articles such as “Clinical Outcomes of Penicillin Skin Testing” published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in 2005. He authored three books on drug sensitivity, most recently co-authoring the Handbook of Drug Allergy, published in 2004.

In addition to his leadership, research contributions, and dedication to his clinical practice, George was devoted to graduate medical education. He spent over three decades as a volunteer clinical faculty member at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows in Allergy and Immunology, and ultimately rising to the position of Professor of Medicine. His wealth of clinical experience, patient and compassionate manner, no-frills style of communication, and sense of humor made him an excellent educator to generations of physicians. 

George and Trudy lived and raised their family in Abington and Huntingdon Valley for 50 years. At home, George would be found expending his limitless energy in the woodshop, on his tractor, or reading at his desk late into the night. George and his family enjoyed summers at their house in Ocean City, NJ where they made a lifetime of memories. George and Trudy moved to The Hill at Whitemarsh in 2018, quickly becoming active in their new community.

Encompassing his love of adventure and the outdoors, George had many personal passions including aviation, travel, scouting, fishing, hunting, and trap shooting. 

As a private pilot of single engine airplanes over the course of his life, he logged thousands of some of his happiest hours in the cockpit and was recognized recently with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of exemplary aviation and safety. George combined aviation and medicine by serving as a Federal Aviation Administration medical examiner, volunteering with Angel Flights to provide air transportation to those in need, and as president of the northeast chapter of the Flying Physicians Association. But more than anything, he loved traveling with his family, flying all over the US and Canada – including an epic adventure to Alaska. George and Trudy were intrepid world travelers. They took trips to over 50 countries over the course of their 61-year marriage.

 The Boy Scouts and the outdoors were a big part of George’s life from a young age. George earned the rank of Eagle Scout and worked summers as a counselor at Treasure Island, Camp Lenape, and the Appalachian Mountain Club wilderness huts.  As an adult George was an active assistant scout leader for Troop 72. He was proud that all three of his sons and one grandson also became Eagle Scouts.

George took every opportunity to fish and hunt with friends and family, where the experience and companionship always outweighed the catch.  He was a member of the Ocean City Fishing Club for over 40 years and later joined the Bright Creek Park Association where he found tranquility in its streams and the forests. His love of hunting also drew him to the trap shooting community at Huntingdon Valley Country Club, where he was a longstanding member.

George is survived by his wife Trudy Green of Lafayette Hill, PA and their four children: George R. Green, Jr. (Karin) of Glens Falls, New York, Trudi Green Smith (Jay) of Philadelphia, PA, Matthew Green (Julie) of Randolph, New Jersey, and David Green, MD (Ariane) of Salt Lake City, Utah. George was predeceased by his daughter Susan Elizabeth who died at birth. His eight grandchildren: Kaitlin, Emma (Tom), Taylor, Kyle, Maggie, Harrison, Sebastien, and Olivia, along with his great-niece, Zoe, will carry the memory of their beloved “Pop Pop.”

He was predeceased by his 9 siblings: Frank (Betty), Margaret (Jack Fox), Jack (Midge), Dorothy (Harry Davies), Elizabeth (Bill Miller), Edward (Marge), Joseph, William (Marita), and Paul (Fran).

He is also survived by sisters-in-law Marita, Fran, Betty, Carol, and Joan, and brothers-in-law Ned, Jack, and Bill King. He is survived by 52 nieces and nephews and predeceased by three.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Philip Neri Church, 437 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA at 2:00pm on Friday, February 2nd. Visitation/viewing will be from 12:30-2:00, prior to the service. A celebration of George’s life will follow at Flourtown Country Club.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, we would ask you to consider a donation to the following charities:

National Kidney Foundation

30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016

https://www.kidney.org/

(212) 889-2210

Angel Flight East

1501 Narcissa Rd, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania 19422

https://angelflighteast.org/

(215) 358-1900