Carl Morton

Carl Morton, M.D., passed away on September 7, 2026, in Toledo, Ohio, at the age of 88, surrounded by his loving children. He had lost his beloved wife of 59 years, Sharon, just seven months earlier.

Carl was born on April 17, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. He completed his internship at Sinai Hospital of Detroit and his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, in 1969. He then served for two years in the United States Army, attaining the rank of Major before being honorably discharged in 1971.

In 1972, he and Sharon moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, with their infant son, Joshua, while expecting their daughter, Goldie. What began as a new adventure became home for the next five decades.

Carl practiced Obstetrics and Gynecology in Honolulu until 2006 and, beginning in 1985, also devoted himself to the emerging field of in vitro fertilization. He was a co-founder and owner of the Pacific In Vitro Fertilization Institute, where he continued practicing until his retirement in 2019. Both of his medical offices were located at Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children.

Throughout his long career, Carl was deeply devoted to his patients and to women's health. He was beloved-and loved in return-by his patients, colleagues, and staff. He was a strong advocate for his patients and took particular pride in the many times when his careful attention and diagnostic instincts helped identify cancer early and save lives.

Carl served Kapi'olani Medical Center in numerous leadership roles, including Vice Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff, as well as Chair of Medical Records. He was also an Associate Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii, where he helped educate generations of physicians.

His commitment to ethics and professional service extended well beyond the hospital. He served for eight years as a Commissioner on the Hawaii State Ethics Commission and for three years as a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Ethics Committee in Washington, D.C. Carl was also a founding member of HAPI, the Hawaii Association of Physicians for Indemnification, a physician-run medical malpractice insurance organization. He served on its Board of Trustees for more than 35 years, including as Chair of the Board.

Carl was more than Dr. Morton. He was a warm, generous, affectionate, occasionally outrageous man with a wicked sense of humor and a literal twinkle in his eye.

He loved beautiful and interesting things-Hawaii, travel, art, antiques, jewelry-and he loved to cook. His steaks were renowned among family and friends, and he took great pride in making a memorable meal. He had a formidable sweet tooth and made an incredible Grand Marnier soufflé. And though he wasn't much of a drinker, he could make a mean cocktail.

But more than anything, Carl loved his family. He was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren and never missed an opportunity to tell people about them. His love was open, genuine, and abundant. You never had to wonder how Carl felt about you.

Carl lived a long life filled with service, intellect, humor, accomplishment, curiosity, and love. He brought over ten thousand babies into the world, helped families become families, taught generations of physicians, served his profession and his community, and left an enormous mark on the people whose lives he touched.

Carl was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sharon, and by his sister, Marian, who died of breast cancer in 1978.

He is survived by his son, Master Sergeant Joshua Morton, U.S. Army (Ret.); his daughter, Goldie Morton, and son-in-law, Gregory Hancock; his grandsons, Quinn Morton Hancock and Tate Morton Hancock; and his sister and brother-in-law, Hannah and Bill Martin.

No funeral is planned. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research in his name at Komen.org.