Vladimir Nigrovic, Md

Dr. Nigrovic was born on March 3, 1934 in Sarajevo, at that time in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and grew up in Zagreb during World War II. Turning away from an early interest in astronomy, he studied medicine in Zagreb Yugoslavia and Heidelberg Germany, where he completed his M.D. in 1962 and met his future wife Elisabeth. While working at the Nuclear Research Center in Karlsruhe, Germany, Dr. Nigrovic discovered how to safely remove radioactive cesium, a component of atomic fallout, from the body. This technique has subsequently been employed to help victims of nuclear waste contamination. He was recruited to an academic position in the United States in 1966, where his work turned to the investigation of diuretics and muscle relaxants, resulting in an improved understanding of the mechanism of action of these medications. A founding member of the Department of Pharmacology at the Medical College of Ohio in 1968, he returned to clinical medicine in 1977 as a resident in anesthesia and rose to the rank of Professor of Anesthesiology and Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics. His research resulted in over 100 scholarly publications and was recognized on two occasions with the B.B. Sankey Award for progress in the field of anesthesia. He was a devoted teacher of medical students and residents, receiving the Golden Apple award for excellence in teaching in 1977. He retired from clinical practice in 1997, continuing to research and publish until just months before his death following a short illness on September 4, 2008 at the age of 74. Beyond his professional work as scientist and physician, he was a man of books and of ideas, of languages and stories, and most importantly of family. He leaves behind his beloved wife of almost 45 years, Elisabeth Jo Nigrovic; three children, Mario, Peter Lise and Nina Adam Rettig; and seven grandchildren, as well as his sister Dr. Gordana Bergant and many lifelong friends across the world. In accordance with his wishes, there will be no funeral service. However, friends and colleagues are invited to join the family in an informal gathering to celebrate his life in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Toledo Medical Center on Tuesday, September 9 from 11:30am-1:30pm. A fund will be established in his honor to encourage scholarship in pharmacology and anesthesia at UTMC. Donations are welcome; please contact Nina Rettig at [emailprotected] Dad, we love you, we thank you, and we miss you!