Ralph Charles Disch, MD, 93, passed away on June 1, 2020 with his daughter, Elizabeth, at his side. A first generation American, Ralph was born November 10, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY to Norwegian parents Charles Lyman Disch and Maggen Ruud Disch. After finishing high school at 16, Ralph attended Columbia College graduating after two years. At the age of 19, Ralph started medical school at Long Island College of Medicine. Graduating in 1949, Ralph earned his M.D. at 22. Afterwards, he did a surgical internship at Kings County Hospital from 1949 – 1951. Uncle Sam suggested he volunteer within 48 hours to serve as a USAF Flight Surgeon in the Korean War. His friends deployed to Korea while Ralph received an “overseas” assignment to Texas where he served at Bryan AFB, Harlingen AFB, and Randolph AFB between 1951-1953. While stationed in Bryan, Ralph met and subsequently married his beautiful wife, Charlotte Hyde, in 1953. Following his discharge, Ralph and Charlotte moved to New York where he began his surgical residency at Methodist Hospital of Brooklyn. Upon completion of his residency in 1956, Ralph accepted an American Cancer Society surgical fellowship at MD Anderson Hospital. Much to the delight of Charlotte, an east Texas native, this fellowship meant a return to Texas. During this period their only child, Elizabeth Jean, was born. Following a short stint as the Chief of Surgery at the V.A. Hospital in Marlin, TX, Ralph joined a group practice of 22+ physicians in Dallas at the J. B. Chester Clinic and Hospital in 1958. He practiced here and at Midway Park Medical Center in Lancaster as well as Methodist Central and Charlton Methodist hospitals until 1993 when he retired. Ralph was board certified in General Surgery in 1959, passing his orals in front of the famed heart surgeon, Dr. Michael DeBakey. Ralph was also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He held various positions during his career including President, Medical Staff, J.B. Chester Hospital and Midway Park Medical Center; Vice-President, Medical Staff, Methodist Hospitals; Chief of Surgery, J. B. Chester Hospital and Midway Park Medical Center. Following his 45+ years treating patients he served as the Medical Director at National Health Insurance Company for a number of years.
For Ralph, surgery was immensely rewarding. He truly cared about his patients. One of his colleagues once wrote that Ralph “exemplified every attribute of a good man and a considerate and kind doctor with superb medical and surgical judgment”. The positive impact of his kindness, medical skill, and intelligence on the lives of his patients, his family, and those who knew him is immeasurable.
When not working, Ralph loved to travel with his family. He enjoyed many trips to Norway to visit relatives and many European, Asian, South Pacific, and South American destinations. Art museums and adventurous dining experiences were often highlights of the travel. As a lifelong learner, Ralph was a frequent student at continuing education classes including Chinese lessons prior to a trip to China at age 80. His “special place” was the family beach house on the Bolivar Peninsula where he and Charlotte loved to spend 3 – 4 months a year. In addition to enjoying Broadway musical productions, Ralph was an avid bridge player and enjoyed playing with friends or in tournaments multiple times a week.
Ralph is survived by his loving daughter, Elizabeth, of Dallas. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 48 years, Charlotte.
Many thanks go to his internists, Tri Nguyen, MD and Mary Norman, MD, and his nephrologists, Robert Farkas, MD and Michael Landgarten, MD. Their guidance allowed Ralph to live a full life up until the last weeks of his life. Thanks, too, go to his caregivers, Belzora Harris and Gidget Henderson, who made his life enjoyable to the end.
A memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1, 2022, the anniversary of his death, at 1:00 p.m. at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, 7990 President George Bush Turnpike, Dallas. In lieu of flowers please consider contributions in his memory to MD Anderson Cancer Center designated for the Ralph C. Disch, M.D., Fellowship in Surgery, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486 or http://www.mdanderson.org/gifts or to the Dallas Museum of Art or the Kimbell Museum of Art.
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