Aca I IJAMES W. JORDON (1904-1985)
On April 5, 1985, James W. Jordon, my fatherand first teacher of dermatology, passed away athis home in Naples, FL, at the age of 80. Despitesome nagging problems with diabetes and emphysema, he was in reasonably good health until thetime of his death. Although the younger generation of dermatologists would not have knownhim, as he had been retired for the preceding 16years, those who trained with him will long remember him as an excellent teacher and clinician. In his own quiet, modest way, he left hismark on our specialty, and he always maintainedthat dermatology had certainly been good tohim.
My father, better known as "Wally" to hisfriends, was born Sept. 25, 1904, in Rochester,NY, to parents (my grandparents) of modestmeans. It was their vision that encouraged him tobe educated and become a physician. Thus, in themid-1920s, my father left Rochester for his formaleducation at the University of Buffalo, a city wherehe would establish his practice and career. He received his M.D. degree from the University ofBuffalo in June 1930 and was married in Augustof that same year to my mother (Helen V. Sampson), his wife and companion for 55 years. Following an internship and medical residency at theBuffalo General Hospital, he left Buffalo in 1933for fellowship training in dermatopathology andfungal skin diseases at the University of Pennsylvania under the direction of the late Fred D. Weidman, M.D. In 1934, he returned to Buffalo tocomplete his formal training, and in 1935, hejoined the late Earl D. Osborn as an associate.These two friends and colleagues practiced together for the next 25 years, until Earl's death inthe summer of 1960.
Shortly before Earl Osborn's death, my fatherwas appointed as professor and chairman of thedepartment of dermatology at the University ofBuffalo School of Medicine (now State Universityof New York at Buffalo), a position he held untilhis retirement in 1969. He was also chief of dermatology services at the Buffalo General Hospital,
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James W. Jordon
the E. J. Meyer Memorial Hospital, and the Buffalo Children's Hospital. A number of very fineclinical dermatologists served their apprenticeshipunder my father and Earl Osborn. Most of themare still in the western New York area.
One story told to me by my father may be ofsome historical interest. When he joined Earl Osborn in 1935, there was only one major dermatologic society that held an annual meeting, theAmerican Dermatological Association (ADA). Myfather, a young, new faculty member, complainedto Earl that there was no meeting for the youngerdermatologist as admittance to the ADA was byelection only. This discussion led to other discus~
sions and finally to discussions by leaders in der~
matology at the time, which subsequently led tothe formation of the American Academy of Dermatology. Thus, the Academy was of special sig~
nificance to my father, as he always felt that insome way he had contributed to its formation.
In 1941 he was elected to membership in theADA, an honor for which he was extremely proud.The ADA meetings were always very special for
Volume 13Number 4October, 1985
both of my parents; they were both extremelyproud when I became a member.
My father's private life and family were sacredto him. He enjoyed taking us on fishing trips tonorthern Canada and spending long weekends atour summer home on the shores of Lake Erie. Inlater years he enjoyed playing golf; despite the factthat he never broke SO for nine holes it did notmatter. He read constantly, especially books aboutinteresting people, far away places, and historicalnovels. He, like his parents before him, stressedthe need for education, first to my sister and myselfand later to his grandchildren. To say that he in-
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fiuenced my career would be an understatement.I doubt that many realize that it was his initialsuggestions that led Ernst Beutner and me to investigate the immunology of pemphigus in theearly 1960s, yet he never took one ounce of creditfor those early studies. This is a man I will alwaysremember.
He is survived by his wife Helen of Naples, FL,my sister, Carole F. Brown of Waterstown, NY,myself, and eight grandchildren. Needless to say,we will all miss him dearly.
Robert Earl Jordon, M.D., Houston, TX
