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Matthew Walzer
In memoriam
IblMhew
Walzer
The members and alumni of the Allergy Division of The Jewish Hospital and Medical Center of Brooklyn record with deep sorrow the death of their former Director, Dr. Matthew Walzer, on February 13, 1982. It is fitting that his obituary be published in this journal because Dr. Walzer was truly an “Academy man. ” He was a member and later President of the Eastern parent society, The Association for the Study of Asthma and Allied Conditions, and in this capacity was active in the formation of The American Academy of Allergy in 1943. His major contribution to the Academy was the drafting of organizational plans for the establishment of the A. A. A. Research Council, of which he served as Secretary from 1946 to 1953. Prior to this he originated the Council of Aeroallergens, which succeeded in establishing standard methods for pollen counting and in conducting national pollen surveys. He was an extremely busy Secretary, simultaneously serving as Chairman of the Pollen Committee as well as the Committee for Standardization of Testing Techniques. The exceptional services that Dr. Walzer rendered to the Academy during his professional career were recognized in 1968, when he was the recipient of its Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Walzer was perhaps best known for his original contributions to the field of allergy, having authored or co-authored approximately 75 articles dealing with a wide variety of subjects, particularly passive transfer testing, absorption of undigested proteins, mucous membrane hypersensitiveness in man and animals, and pollen studies. The book Asthma and Hayfever in Theot? cmd Practicr, which he co-authored with ,4. F. Coca and A. A. Thommen, was considered the classic authoritative reference text for many years. He served as a member of the Editorial Board of THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY, Journal of Immunology, and Journal of Investigative Dermatology for 22, 21, and 18 years, respectively. With Dr. Murray Albert he initiated Allergy Abstracts and functioned as its Consulting Editor until his death. One of his most personally satisfying accomplishments was the founding of the Allergy Division
Matthew, Waker
of The Jewish Hospital of Brooklyn. Here he started the first allergy clinic in Brooklyn and one of the first such clinics in Greater New York in 1922. Here he established the first residency training program in the country and became renowned as a great teacher in his field. In addition, postgraduate courses in allergy were given regularly. Many of his residents and registrants in these courses became active, productive contributors to our field, both in this country and abroad. Those of us who have had the good fortune of training under and working with Dr. Walzer will remember him as a close. trusted friend and a revered teacher and colleague. We will miss ilis valuable counsel. We extend our sincere sympathies to his beloved wife and co-worker, Katherine Bowman. Rernwtl R. .Cic~pc’l.M.D. Vol.
70
No. 4,
p.313
IblMhew
Walzer
The members and alumni of the Allergy Division of The Jewish Hospital and Medical Center of Brooklyn record with deep sorrow the death of their former Director, Dr. Matthew Walzer, on February 13, 1982. It is fitting that his obituary be published in this journal because Dr. Walzer was truly an “Academy man. ” He was a member and later President of the Eastern parent society, The Association for the Study of Asthma and Allied Conditions, and in this capacity was active in the formation of The American Academy of Allergy in 1943. His major contribution to the Academy was the drafting of organizational plans for the establishment of the A. A. A. Research Council, of which he served as Secretary from 1946 to 1953. Prior to this he originated the Council of Aeroallergens, which succeeded in establishing standard methods for pollen counting and in conducting national pollen surveys. He was an extremely busy Secretary, simultaneously serving as Chairman of the Pollen Committee as well as the Committee for Standardization of Testing Techniques. The exceptional services that Dr. Walzer rendered to the Academy during his professional career were recognized in 1968, when he was the recipient of its Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Walzer was perhaps best known for his original contributions to the field of allergy, having authored or co-authored approximately 75 articles dealing with a wide variety of subjects, particularly passive transfer testing, absorption of undigested proteins, mucous membrane hypersensitiveness in man and animals, and pollen studies. The book Asthma and Hayfever in Theot? cmd Practicr, which he co-authored with ,4. F. Coca and A. A. Thommen, was considered the classic authoritative reference text for many years. He served as a member of the Editorial Board of THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY, Journal of Immunology, and Journal of Investigative Dermatology for 22, 21, and 18 years, respectively. With Dr. Murray Albert he initiated Allergy Abstracts and functioned as its Consulting Editor until his death. One of his most personally satisfying accomplishments was the founding of the Allergy Division
Matthew, Waker
of The Jewish Hospital of Brooklyn. Here he started the first allergy clinic in Brooklyn and one of the first such clinics in Greater New York in 1922. Here he established the first residency training program in the country and became renowned as a great teacher in his field. In addition, postgraduate courses in allergy were given regularly. Many of his residents and registrants in these courses became active, productive contributors to our field, both in this country and abroad. Those of us who have had the good fortune of training under and working with Dr. Walzer will remember him as a close. trusted friend and a revered teacher and colleague. We will miss ilis valuable counsel. We extend our sincere sympathies to his beloved wife and co-worker, Katherine Bowman. Rernwtl R. .Cic~pc’l.M.D. Vol.
70
No. 4,
p.313