Jack Tepper, MD Obituary (1915 - 2010)

Jack Tepper, MD of Overland Park, Kansas was born on May 10, 1915 in New York, New York and died August 12, 2010 at his home. He was preceded in death by his wife Rene B. Tepper who died on May 22, 2010 and by his parents, Anna and William Tepper, his brothers Bernard Tepper, MD and Louis Tepper, his sister Sarah Zitcer, his son David Tepper, MD and two grandchildren, Brian and David Kusnetzky. He is survived by his daughter Cindy (Phil) Kusnetzky of Kansas City, his grandchildren, Carol (Bruce) Jerwick of Overland Park, Lisa Kusnetzky of Kansas City, Michael (Julie)Tepper of Atlanta, Georgia, Jacqueline (Ruth) Tepper of Charleston, South Carolina, William (Mary) Tepper of Columbia, South Carolina and Anna Tepper of Philadelphia, PA, and great-grandchildren, Michael and Lindsay Jerwick, Ben, Carter and Madison Kusnetzky, Jake , Neil and Lillian Tepper, and Ann Carter Tepper , his sisters Martell Weil of Virginia and Margaret (David) Winkler of Louisiana, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Jack was raised in the small town of Cordele, Georgia. He spent two years of college at Emory Junior College in Valdosta, Georgia and then completed his undergraduate education and received his Doctor of Medicine degree at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He then completed a two year rotating internship at New York City Hospital followed by a two year Pediatrics residency at the Children’s Hospital and Research Foundation in Cincinnati, Ohio which was extended to four years because of research he was doing in the area of vaccines for children and at that time also for the Armed Forces of the US engaged in combat in WW II. “Dr Jack” as he was referred to by his uncountable patients, then spent many glorious years practicing pediatric medicine in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Jack built his own hospital, Tepper Hospital and Clinic, because he believed that the standard of care in the local City-County hospital’s pediatric department was wanting. His hospital grew to become a 67 bed pediatric hospital accredited by the American Hospital Association as the only privately owned pediatric hospital meeting its standards. Ultimately, it was sold to a hospital chain prior to his retirement, after which Jack and Rene moved to Boca Raton, Florida and ultimately to Kansas City approximately twelve years ago to near to his daughter and her family. Jack was very involved in his community, serving over the years as President of his Temple’s Brotherhood, Chairman of the Building Committee for reconstruction of an outdated Jewish Community Center of which he also served as President, and also served as Chairman of the community’s annual United Jewish Appeal fundraising campaign. Jack was also a great cook and the author of a cookbook and tended his vegetable crops and fruit trees while living in Florida. He was an excellent husband, a proud and gentle father, grandfather and great grandfather and loved and respected by all of his family. He was an extremely generous person who loved to give funds and encouragement to all, especially the members of his family. Dr. Jack Tepper will be missed by all. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City will be appreciated. Graveside funeral services at Mt. Moriah Cemetery at 11:00 am on Sunday, August 15, 2010.