Avrum L. Katcher, M.D.

Avrum L. Katcher, M.D., age 84 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died on Friday, June 4, 2010 in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, August 28, 1925, son of the late William and Anna Cahan Katcher, he had resided in the Flemington area since 1959, having formerly lived in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. Dr. Katcher's family roots in Hunterdon County can be traced back to his father’s upbringing on a farm located on Cherryville-Hollow Road in Raritan Township.

Dr. Katcher received his M.D. from Johns Hopkins University. After completing his medical training, he served as an Army Captain in the Korean War. He worked at the Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ from 1959 until his retirement in 1994. During his tenure he served as the Director of Pediatrics as well as Assistant Medical Director of the hospital. Dr. Katcher was also an Attending Physician at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where he taught Developmental Pediatrics to the Resident physicians.

A member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Katcher became chairman of the Seniors section after his retirement. Dr. Katcher was proud of helping to start the Polio Drive in the early 1960s as well as the Educational Services Commission. He also was one of the driving forces behind the construction of the Doctors’ Office Building.
 In time for the 50th anniversary of the Medical Center, he wrote “A Time to Remember,” an account of the founding of the Medical Center. He was also an avid gardener, specializing in growing dahlias, and he took great pleasure in painting and drawing.

Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Estelle Sklar Katcher; three daughters and sons-in-law, Ruth Katcher and Jeff Newell of Brooklyn, NY, Susan Katcher and Bradford White of Newton, MA, and Eva Katcher and Kevin Donohue of Clarksburg, MD; a son and daughter-in-law, Daniel Katcher and Risa Sherman of Needham, MA; a brother, Aaron Katcher, M.D. of Arlington, TX; and seven grandchildren, Henry Newell, Liana Butchard, Melissa Butchard, Laura Donohue, William Katcher, Nolan Katcher and Lucy Katcher.

Memorial Services will take place Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Or Chadash, the Reform Temple of Hunterdon County, 149 Foothill Road, Flemington, NJ (Readington Township) under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Interment will be private and there are no calling hours. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders USA, PO Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741 (doctorswithoutborders.org) or to the Hunterdon Medical Center Foundation, 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822.