http://www.legacy.com/NorwalkAdvocate/DeathNotices.asp?
Page=Notice&PersonID=120205712
Dr. Charles Goldberg Hertz
CHARLES GOLDBERG HERTZ Pediatrician and Health Care Advocate, 74, of
Stamford, CT, died on 11/7/08 of metastatic melanoma. A Beloved
pediatrician in Philadelphia for more than 20 years, Dr. Hertz was an
avid musician, composer, and traveler, with a passion for art,
calligraphy, and architecture. Dr. Hertz took his ideals from well
baby care, to managing wellness in a true Health Maintenance
Organization, when he founded Penn Urban Health in 1973. This
pioneering group practice focused on primary care and the role of the
primary care provider (at Penn Urb this could be physician, nurse
practitioner, or even physician's assistant) in coordinating and
maintaining health. In 1986, he moved to Chicago to work at ANCHOR
(an HMO of Rush Medical Center) and subsequently in the Managed Care
Services Group at MetLife. In 1993 he became Chief Medical Officer of
MetLife in New York, and among his many duties was Editor of the
Statistical Bulletin. He retired from Metlife in 1999 and quickly
became involved with Medicover, an organization working to set up
practices to provide healthcare as an alternative to government
clinics in former communist countries, such as the Czech Republic,
Hungary, Poland, and Romania. He had many passions, but none of them
was as great as his love for music. Dr. Hertz began playing the
trombone at the age of 8 and continued until well after his 74th
birthday. He led the marching bands in high school and college, and
was known for going to football games solely for the half-time show.
For the past six years, he was the President of the Westport
Community Band and in this capacity helped to design and plan
programs that increased the exposure and influence of the band. He
also collaborated with Norwegian composer Jens Wendelboe on a piece
that has become the signature piece for the Westport Community Band,
Fanfare and Anthem. He also enjoyed work as an occasional substitute
music teacher. In addition, he had a great sense of community and
volunteerism. In the late 1960s, he produced Benjamin Britten's
"Noye's Fludde" in University City. It was a great example of Dr.
Hertz's ability to bring together a wide range of people all focusing
on a single effort. Dozens and dozens of adults and children
participated. He helped create the University City Arts League, which
still thrives today. Since he retired, he volunteered at the Darien
Book Aid Plan, helping to send books to third world countries;
AmeriCares, where he introduced a series of box-lunch lectures on
aspects of health care provided by this organization; and both the
Stamford and Norwalk Symphonies. He also served on the Board of
Directors of ARI (Always Reaching for Independence) in Stamford,
where he was Vice Chair. Dr. Hertz is survived by his wife of 33
years, Lee Combrinck-Graham and his former wife, Adele Hertz Gray,
his brother Robert G. Hertz, of Sunnyvale, CA, and his sister, Lois
Adler, of Austin, TX. He is also survived by his four children, Sara
Anne Hertz, of Ambler, PA, Adam Elliott Hertz of Swarthmore, PA,
Theodore Hertz of Lower Gynnedd, PA, Mark Philip Combrinck-Hertz of
Stamford, CT, and 7 grandchildren. A memorial celebration will be
held from 2 - 5 PM on Sunday, December 14, at the Ethical Humanist
Society of Philadelphia 1906 South Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia,
PA 19103 In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made
to Friends of ARI of Connecticut, 174 Richmond Hill Avenue, Stamford,
CT 06902
