Obituary of Rudolph Charles Dangelmajer

Dr. Rudolph Charles DangelmajerOrthopedic SurgeonBerkeley Heights: Dr. Rudolph Charles Dangelmajer, "Rudy", a long time resident of Berkeley Heights, died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, June 26, 2009 after a long and courageous battle with prostate cancer. Dr. Dangelmajer is predeceased by his wife, Kathleen Gannon Dangelmajer of Norwalk, CT. He is survived by his children, Susan Dangelmajer Rubenstein and husband Sid of Lexington, MA; Jeffrey Dangelmajer and wife Susan of Barnegat and Lisa Dangelmajer Scher and husband Greg of North Brunswick. "Grandpa Rudy" to his grandchildren, Simon and Shayna Rubenstein, Sean Dangelmajer and Jesse and Kayla Scher, he also leaves dozens of loving nieces and nephews.Dr. Dangelmajer was born in Niagara Falls, NY, the son of immigrants from Hungary. He grew up in Nutley, NJ where he was a golden-glove boxer and was Captain of his high school football team, as well as Vice President of his class. He worked every summer on farms in the Midwest, so that he could put himself through college and medical school.Dr. Dangelmajer graduated with Honors from the Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. He earned the graduate degree of Medical Doctor from the University of Rochester, where he was honored for his original research in metabolic bone disease. After a surgical internship at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, he served with distinction as an Officer in the United States Navy, and was stationed overseas in Okinawa. There he was responsible for the health and well being of a division of marines and was the Chief Physician of the US Marine Corps boxing team. After returning from Asia he studied orthopedic surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.Dr. Dangelmajer touched many lives as a physician at Overlook Hospital and the Summit Medical Group where he specialized in total joint replacements. His greatest professional joy was helping patients regain the ability to walk by replacing the hip joint, which he did more than 1000 times. He served as President of the Medical Group, Chief of Orthopedic Surgery and President of the Board of Health for Berkeley Heights. For those who knew "Rudy" he was always the reason for the party. It is our loss but Heavens gain.The funeral will be held on Tuesday, June 30th at 9:15 a.m. from the Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung followed by a 10 a.m. Mass of Resurrection at St. Mary's Stony Hill Church, Watchung. Interment will be in St. Teresa Cemetery in Summit. Visitation will be on Monday from 3-5 & 7-9 p.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Joseph E. Enright Foundation, P.O. Box 519, Summit, NJ 07902-0519.