Beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather and friend, Dr. Garry Brody died peacefully at his home in Playa Vista, CA, surrounded by family. Garry was a highly regarded, internationally recognized plastic and reconstructive surgeon, known not only for his surgical skills and breadth of knowledge, but also for his clinical research contributions, leadership, innovative ideas and Socratic teaching methods. He characterized his passion for plastic surgery as both his profession and his hobby.
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, son of James and Ruth Brody, Garry received his medical degree from the University of Alberta in 1956. He went on to earn an MSc in Experimental Surgery while concurrently completing a two year rotating internship at McGill University’s Montreal General Hospital (MGH). At MGH he met Sonia, the love of his life and life partner for the next 63 years.
He completed his residency in general surgery at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
Following his training in plastic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, one of the top programs in the country, the Brodys returned to the DC area where Garry started a practice in Washington and suburban Alexandria, VA.
In 1969 Garry was recruited to Southern California to open and head the Plastics and Reconstructive Service at the world-renowned Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey. Rancho gave him the opportunity and flexibility to engage in what he saw as the entire breadth of his profession: private surgical practice, teaching and research. He remained in private practice in Southern California for the next 45 plus years. His first office was in Downey. In 1974 he established the first Hand Rehabilitation Center in California at Downey Community Hospital, where he also served as Chief of Surgery and President of Medical Staff. He was then instrumental in establishing the Division of Plastic Surgery in the Surgery department of USC Medical School. He moved his offices to USC where he also opened another Hand Rehabilitation Center at the University Hospital. Appointed as full time Clinical Professor in 1994 he stayed in surgical practice at USC until his retirement in 2006, remaining as Professor Emeritus until his death.
Dr. Brody was Board Certified in both General Surgery and Plastic Surgery. He pioneered new techniques in facial, breast, hand, and burn reconstruction, and conducted research on bioprosthetic materials and epidemiology. He authored more than 100 scientific articles and book chapters, served as advisor to numerous government regulatory agencies, and private industry. He mentored dozens of plastic surgery students and residents. In 1995 Dr. Brody established and hosted 65 live television surgery symposia (Teleplast), beamed to plastic surgery training programs around the world. He was active in many plastic surgery organizations, serving as President of the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation, the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Association of Hand Surgery, as well as the California Society of Plastic Surgeons. The media frequently sought out Dr. Brody on all topics related to plastic and reconstructive surgery, particularly breast reconstruction.
Garry loved travel and he and Sonia journeyed widely throughout the world, often with their children in tow, as he was invited as visiting faculty to Canadian and foreign universities in Europe, China, South America, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. His international ties were many.
He volunteered frequently with Physicians for Peace and various other international relief organizations. His consummate surgical skills improved the lives of many of the world’s poorest and most disadvantaged children and adults. His greatest sense of satisfaction came from taking cases that few others would, caring, over the years, for lepers in Easter Island, casualties of the Yom Kippur war in Israel, burn victims in Nicaragua, congenital deformities in Micronesia and the Philippines among many others.
Garry was a man of wit, humor, intelligence and compassion. He treated his patients with dignity and respect regardless of who they were. He addressed any issue with logic and rationality and was comfortable speaking about many subjects, especially aesthetics and art. Upon retirement he took up clay sculpting, producing remarkable pieces of art up until the very end of his life. He was an exceptional man and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Garry is survived by his wife Sonia, his sister Florence, his three children and their spouses Allan (Rosa), Jeff (Julie), Joanna (Thomas Small) and his grandchildren – Allie (Rob Runkel), Jack (Nicole Gibbs), Nic, Chris, Anna, Rachel, Joey and Lyra, all of whom lovingly called him their “Bop”.
A private family service was held May 7, 2021. A larger memorial service is planned for later this year. Donations in Garry's honor may be made to the California Society of Plastic Surgeons Educational and Research Foundation (www.cspserf.org) or the Edmonton Jewish Seniors Drop-in Centre (www.jdicseniors.ca).
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