Obituary of Duncan C. Wormer

Duncan Conrad Wormer, MD, a long-time physician and former resident of Portville, died January 21, 2017 in Jacksonville, FL after a brief illness. He was born on December 14, 1925, to Dr. Duncan Lee and Catherine Scheiterle Wormer in the family home at 9 Temple Street, Portville. On September 22, 1979, he married the former Mary Ellen Linnan in the Universalist Unitarian Church in Buffalo, NY. He was previously married in 1949 to Anne E. Miller of Rochester, NY, who passed away in 1986. A 1943 graduate of Portville High School, he was valedictorian, co-captain of the football and basketball teams, and also played on the baseball team. He was awarded the Eldridge Memorial Trophy for football in 1943. In 1944, he was inducted into the U. S. Navy and completed his basic training at USNTC, Sampson, NY, qualifying for the V-12 Training Program. He completed his pre-medical training at Drew University in Madison, NJ, where he also played baseball, and at the University of Rochester with a B. A. in 1946. In 1950, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, with his M. D. Following an internship and residency at Rochester General Hospital, he was again inducted into the USN, serving as Lieutenant (MC) USNR at USNH St. Albans, NY, the USNAD Hingham, MA, and the USS Markab AD-21 Newport, RI. Following a fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, he joined his father, Duncan L. Wormer, MD, in practice at 9 Temple Street, Portville. After completing his surgical training, his brother, Donald A. Wormer, MD, also joined their practice. In 1970, he opened the Wormer Medical Center at 956 N. Main St, Portville. He and other area physicians and practitioners also opened offices in Franklinville, Cuba, and Belmont. The Guthrie Clinic of Sayre, PA, purchased the practice in 1992 and it became a satellite office. Later, he continued to practice in Corning, at the VA Hospital in Bath, and the VA in Olean. During his medical career, he served on the medical staffs of Olean General, St. Francis, Cuba Memorial, and the Bath VA Hospitals. He served as the Medical Director of the Cattaraugus County Nursing Home for 20 years in Olean, and was school physician at Portville, Olean, and Archbishop Walsh Schools. He was a member of the Mayo Alumni, Penn Alumni, the American College of Physicians and the American Board of Internal Medicine and of Geriatrics. In 2000, he was honored for practicing medicine for 50 years by the University of Pennsylvania and he was inducted into the Portville Hall of Fame in 2009. Other than medicine, his deepest interest was in each member of his family. With them, he enjoyed golf, tennis, skiing, hiking, canoeing, camping, and travel in their Airstream trailer. They also shared the love of many pets. In addition to his wife of 38 years, he is survived by his 8 children, Judith (Jon) Cowles and Duncan D. (Barbara) Wormer, M. D., both of Pittsford, Catherine (James) Feely of Rochester, Mary Jean (Lee) Muncy of Keller, TX, Andrew (Anne) Wormer of Ferrisburg, VT, Elizabeth (Steve) Paquette of Bristol, VT, Sallie (Jeff Garton) Wormer of Pittsburgh, PA, and Crystal (Mike) Confer of Jacksonville, FL; two step-children, Michele Coletti of Jacksonville, FL, and Richard Coletti of Portville; many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is survived by one sister, Carolyn R. (Mark) Hannon of Portville and numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his daughter Cameron Wormer, his brother Donald A. (Elinor) Wormer, MD, and sister Mary Lou (Ivan) Harrison. According to his wishes he will be cremated. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Portville, #19 North Main Street, Portville on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 1:00 PM. The Rev. Marilyn Hale, Pastor, will officiate. Memorials may be made to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida (communityhospice.com) or an organization of your choice.