Obituaries

He was an inspiration leader who always put the patient first. I grew to know and love Andy over the years. I initially had the opportunity to get to know him as a resident rotating to the IR service. I will never forget his kind words of encouragement as I struggled through those early cases. Later as a faculty member I enjoyed his honest banter regarding administrative issues. Never one to back down when he felt he was right. He put the spine into spine intervention. Deb and I had the honor and pleasure of knowing the Crummy family over the years. Deb working with Tim at St. Mary's and my sharing with Andy and Elsa many faculty events. Deb and I will always fondly remember the great, good and sometimes sad time we shared with the Crummy family. We send our deep felt condolences. Pat and Deb Turski

In the late 1960's I was a medical physics graduate student of Charles Kelsey, working on ultrasound and its applications in speech research. At the time, Medical Physics was part of Radiology, and Dr. Kelsey was already a close colleague of Andy Crummy. Dr. Crummy supported our ultrasound work because the primary subjects we were helping were children, and he was interested in reducing the radiation dose required for x-ray studies of speech organs. One of these studies compared M-mode ultrasound measurements of lateral pharyngeal wall motion to measurements done with cineradiography, and Dr. Crummy taught us to correctly interpret the x-ray studies. He remained a good friend throughout both of our work careers in Radiology and in Medical Physics here at the University of Wisconsin. My condolences to Andy's family. He was a great colleague! Jim Zagzebski, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Medical Physics

I met Dr. Crummy in 1976 when I joined the department of radiology as a college student took a part-time job as an administrative assistant at UW Radiology. I supported Dr. Crummy and a few other faculty. Though he came across initially as gruff, he had such a soft, compassionate heart. He gave me the opportunity to help coordinate the Society of Interventional Radiology annual meeting which was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico that year. It was a great opportunity for me and has been a cherished memory. I eventually worked my way into promotional positions, but we had opportunities to cross paths until he retired. I feel so fortunate to have known him and appreciated the confidence he showed me throughout the years. I know your family has many fond memories that you will cherish as you think of him in the coming days and months. In Sympathy, Margaret Birrenkott

My deepest condolences to the family. What an honor and privilege to have worked with Dr. Crummy during Residency and Interventional Fellowship at UW in 1984-89. He was a great teacher and role model, always the patient's advocate. To this day I remember lessons he taught all of us, not only in medicine but in life! He could be very serious and yet he was a joy to work shoulder to shoulder with. His wit and sense of humor were wonderful! And we all have better grammar because ABC would correct us! We will all miss him and will appreciate the many contributions that he made to academia, to his patients, and to the lives of his many, many colleagues over the years. Phil Carlson, MD

I met Dr. Crummy when I was an x-ray student in 1984-1986. I knew he had a reputation for being strict, so I was nervous when I joined the IR team a few years later. He was welcoming and was so patient as I was learning the ropes. I loved his funny sayings and his common sense approach to problems. His loving wife packed his lunch and even peeled his orange. That shows you just how down to earth he was! May he rest in peace as he is reunited with Elsa his lovely wife. Patty Crane

I was a resident in Surgery at the same time that Andy was a resident in radiology. I served in the Navy and returned to the UW in Cardiac Surgery retiring in 1993. We had good times together at old Wisconsin General Hospital--Whiskey General to those of us at that time. George Kroncke, M.D.

I first met Andy in 1988 when our family was working its way through a cancer challenge. He gave us excellent advice and care. A few years later, we became colleagues when I began my work on behalf of the medical school. He was welcoming and I saw his leadership firsthand. Always thoughtful and with the same caring we experienced earlier. Through the years, my friendship with Andy deepened and Elsa was always part of any adventure. They were both so generous to the UW. My condolences to the family.

Many fine memories of Andy at University Hospital. Gordon Derzon

Dr. Crummy, as I called him when I first met him, gave me my first post- fellowship position as a brand new budding interventional radiologist at the University of Wisconsin. One of my mentors from my fellowship at the University of Michigan had gotten a call from ABC asking if they had any seasoned staff who might be looking for a change. My mentor replied " no senior staff but we have a good fellow". Andy replied " we have a fellow of our own we are considering". However, such was his respect for his colleagues and his incredible professionalism, that he agreed to have me come for an interview! My mentor on the other hand strongly encouraged me to go saying that Dr. Crummy would further my training and make me better Andy picked me up at Dane County Airport in the dead of winter in a brown 2 door Datsun sedan and the passenger window was stuck- in the open position! Andy happily drove me through campus pointing out well known frat houses and famous and important buildings on the campus of UW. We arrived at the hospital and I was chilled to the bone, but things heated up quickky once the interviews began. I was grilled-all day long. I had an itinerary to follow that was as long as my arm. Andy was clearly taking this seriously even though he wasn't looking for a just trained fellow! Well, the day came to an end. I had even interviewed with the UW fellow, an absolutely lovely physician named Ellen and I thought there was no way I could even compete for this position. At the end of the day as Andy drove me back to the airport (in the same brown Datsun with the broken window) he said that he had talked with his colleagues in IR and they had decided to offer me the job if I wanted it. Even over their own fellow! Andy told me he was encouraged by my youth and vigor. He told me he was sure that I would bring with me a different set of skills and possibly new procedures not yet practiced at UW and that would elevate everyones game and make the section and department stronger. I couldn't believe my ears! He put such faith and trust in me and I had never even met him before that day! He gave me a week to make up my mind, but not one day more. I knew I would have been a fool not to take a position working with a man who inspired such confidence, put so much trust in people and always saw the best in people. And this was one of the great pioneers of Interventional Radiology. I'm happy to say I took the position and worked with Andy (first name basis him and I thereafter!) literally every day, side by side for 10 fantastic years! He became a new mentor, a valued colleague, a sympathetic ear when needed, a sage when that was needed more, a dear, dear friend and he gave me a lifetime of inspiration. Alas, Andy retired and I eventuslly moved away from my UW home after that. But the influence of the great...and he was great, ABC has stayed with me my entire career! I wouldn't be who I am without him. Fair travels dear friend. I'll miss you Andy.