Dr. Ralph Landis Engle Jr.

Dr. Ralph Landis Engle, Jr., Professor emeritus of Medicine and Public Health at Cornell University Medical College, New York City, died at his summer home in Easton, Maryland on October 7, 2000 at the age of 80 after a sudden brief illness. He was the son of Ralph Landis Engle, M.D., Pediatrician in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Ruth Enck Engle. He was born in Philadelphia on June 11, 1920. At the age of 10 years, he moved with his parents to Coral Gables, Florida. He was an honor student. He was president of the student body at Miami High School, where he graduated with highest honors in 1938. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1942 with Bachelor of Arts degree and a major in Chemistry. He was active in many school events, including the honor council and presidency of his fraternity. He was awarded the Florida Blue Key in recognition of outstanding achievements. Like his father, he entered Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he met his wife and laboratory partner, Dr. Mary Allen English Engle. They graduated together on June 7, 1945 and married the same day. They are class representatives for their class. He interned in Pathology at The New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center in New York. Then he served in the U.S. Army where, as Captain, he was Chief of Laboratory Service at the Regional-Station Hospital, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In 1948 he returned to The New York Hospital to the Department of Medicine. There, he was joined by his wife who was appointed to the Department of Pediatrics. Together they ascended the academic ladder. He rose from intern to Professor of Medicine in 1969. He served as Chief of the Hematology Division and Chief of the Division of Medical Systems and Computer Science.In 1973 he became, in addition, Professor of Public Health and Associate Director of Research and Sponsored Programs. Upon retirement in 1990 he became Professor emeritus of Medicine and of Public Health. As a team he and his wife devoted 90 years to the Medical Center. He authored or co-authored more than 100 medical publications and one book. He was a member of many local, national and international committees, and officer in many professional societies. He was especially proud to be a member of the American and International Hematology Societies, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Society of Sigma Xi, and the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Among many committees were those of the National Cancer Institute, and the National Academy of Sciences. Because of his interests in medical history, he was chairman of the Rare Book Room Committee of the New York Academy of Medicine. Among numerous honors, he was a Markle Scholar in Medicine Science from 1952-1957. He was President of the New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical College Alumni Council. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church. Together with his wife, he is listed in Who''s Who in America. He enjoyed traveling and he visited all 50 of the United States and over 75 foreign countries around the world, often as invited lecturer. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Mary Allen Engle of Coconut Grove, Florida and Easton, Maryland and by his daughter, Marilyn and two grandchildren, Andrew and Cortnay of Alexandria, Virginia. A Memorial Service will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Easton on Tuesday, October 10, 2000 at 4:00 PM. Interment will be at the Huguenot Memorial Presbyterian Church of Pelham Manor, New York. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Scholarship Fund of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The address is: Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine, 201 N Charles Street- Suite 1400, Baltimore, MD 21201. Asked by Who''s Who in America for a quotation that symbolized his philosophy, he wrote: "Faith in God, trust in man, commitment to the responsibilities of life in the face of risk, and love of one''s fellowmen are the keys to a successful and happy life".