Frederick “Fritz” Ware, MD, PhD, spent his life dedicated to helping improve the lives of others, whether in the classroom or in the hospital. Dr. Ware died on May 7 at the age of 96.
A UNMC alum, Dr. Ware became a professor at UNMC in 1960, teaching physiology and pharmacology, adding internal medicine and biophysics throughout his university career until retiring in 1991.
He began practicing medicine at Clarkson Hospital in 1963, and at the height of his career, he was president of the Clarkson Hospital medical staff, medical director and manager of the Renal Disease Center, and medical director and president of Nebraska Organ Retrieval System (now Live On Nebraska).
“Dr. Ware was a world-class clinician and inspiring educator. We all learned from him,” said Harris Frankel, MD, Nebraska Medicine’s chief medical and external affairs officer. “He was a legend in the halls of Clarkson Hospital, and his legacy is cemented in the compassionate and thoughtful care he provided for his patients.”
Dr. Ware’s nephrological research and practice led to groundbreaking advances in organ retrieval and transplantation. In 1970, he led the effort for UNMC and Clarkson Hospital to establish the first transplant program. By the mid-1970s, he prioritized the need for viable organs and helped organize the first organ retrieval program in Nebraska in 1977, NORS (Live On Nebraska). That program grew to procure additional organs including lungs, hearts, small intestines and pancreas, as well as developing a program for recovering non-vascularized tissues.
After leaving his practice in 1991, Dr. Ware continued to serve as president and medical director of NORS and medical director of Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society in Omaha until 2004. In 2005, he received the Clarkson Legends of Medicine Award.
A memorial service is scheduled at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 28, at Heafey Hoffmann Dworak Cutler Mortuaries at 7805 West Center Road in Omaha. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Fontanelle Forest/Neale Woods Nature Reserve and the University of Nebraska Foundation’s University Internal Medicine Fund.
One of the most inspiring teachers of my medical school career. He was true credit to our school and to Nebraska.
I knew Fred (Fritz) as a post-doctoral fellow and faculty member in the 70s and 80s. While his clinical expertise was legendary, his understanding of cardiac and renal physiology was also well known. He was known to be a touch teacher bju students really learned the material when they interacted with Fritz. He leaves quite a legacy in physiology at UNMC. May his memory be a blessing.—Irv Zucker