Obituary for Eli S. Schessel (1932-2012)
New York Times via Legacy.com
"SCHESSEL--Dr. Eli S. Beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away on October 4th as a result of a sudden massive stroke.
Tireless and dedicated Plastic Surgeon. Former Department chair of the Archdiocese of Brooklyn and Queens, chief of Plastics at Parkway and Flushing Hospitals in Queens and long time member of the medical staff of Lennox Hill Hospital. Born in the Bronx 1932, graduate of Stuyvesant High School, captain of the track team. Class of 1953 Cornell University, lettered in track and polo. Received MD from Chicago medical school and training in General and Plastic Surgery from Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn New York.
Served honorably as a Major in the U.S. Air Force as flight surgeon and chief of surgery at Loan Air Base in France. He was admitted to the American Academy of Plastic and reconstructive Surgeons in 1969 as its 1,651st member and was an early pioneer in the use of pig skin as a biologic dressing for the care of deep burns. As a young surgical resident Dr. Schessel visited the local zoos in the New York area harvesting the skin of various animals to determine their suitability for this purpose. He also traveled to Israel on numerous occasions to train doctors to treat burns and other wounds suffered in the conflicts. Latter in his career he was a co-developer of Proxiderm, a tissue expander which has saved the limbs and lives of countless elderly and debilitated patients. On 9/11 Dr. Schessel was rushed by police to run a triage unit near the world trade center site.
Devoted Husband to Martha Schessel of 48 years. Supportive and loving father to Harry and Michael and Father-in-law to Risa and Jessica. Doting grandfather of Bradley, Julian, Lauren and Alec. Avid Skier and tennis player and lifelong fan and former peanut vendor of the New York Yankees. He spent his final hours sitting behind home plate watching his beloved Yankees, beat the Red Sox and win the American league East he was stricken shortly after just as he returned home."