Dr. Joseph P. Elliott, Jr., of West Bloomfield, Michigan, passed away at his home surrounded by family on January 3, 2024. He was 95. Joe is dearly missed by his loving wife of 66 years, Donna, and his children and their spouses, Linda Elliott (John West), James Elliott, John Paul Elliott (Jennifer), and Lori Elliott-Neeley (Douglas), as well as his grandchildren, Nick, Joey, Jack, Nate, Elizabeth, and Megan, and his nieces and nephew, Mary Kay Kereluik, Charles Riley, and Joanne Riley.

Joe enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a vascular surgeon at Henry Ford Hospital, where, for more than 40 years, he participated in a busy clinical practice, mentored scores of surgical residents, and undertook clinical research. Joe was also the founding director of Henry Ford Hospital’s Non-Invasive Vascular Lab. Throughout, Joe’s first thought was always for the care of his patients.

Joe arrived at Ford Hospital in 1954 after graduating from Johns Hopkins University with an A.B. in Chemistry and earning an M.D. from Hahnemann Medical College (now Drexel University College of Medicine) in Philadelphia. Two years into his surgical residency, Joe met the love of his life, Donna, a surgical nurse at Ford Hospital.

Soon after their marriage in 1957, Joe and Donna embarked on the first of many grand adventures when Joe joined the U.S. Navy, serving as Physician and Surgeon on the icebreaker USS Burton Island. When Joe wasn’t aboard ship assisting in keeping the waters of the Arctic navigable, he and Donna enjoyed base life in Bremerton, Washington. During the International Geophysical Year (July 1957 to July 1958), they rendezvoused in Christ Church, New Zealand, where Donna worked as a nurse while Joe participated in Operation Deep Freeze III in the Antarctic.

Upon his return to Ford Hospital, Joe completed his residency with the Szilagyi-Smith Division, which was pioneering techniques in the emerging field of vascular surgery. Given his keen interest in this new field, Joe joined HFH’s Vascular Surgery Division, which he led from 1981 to 1985. Joe also participated in clinical research, authoring or co-authoring over 70 book chapters or scientific papers on vascular surgery and regularly presenting at professional meetings. In addition to his responsibilities in HFH’s vascular residency program, Joe was a Clinical Professor of Surgery and a Student Advisor at the University of Michigan Medical School. Joe was also a member of and held leadership positions in a number of national, state, and local surgical societies. Joe thoroughly enjoyed the collaborative nature of his work at Henry Ford Hospital and the many good colleagues and lifelong friendships it afforded him.

Born in 1928 to Joseph P. Elliott, Sr. and Elizabeth B. (Hess) Elliott, Joe grew up in a four-generation household with his grandmother and great grandfather in Wilmington, Delaware. As a youth, Joe was both an Eagle and Sea Scout and spent many happy summers at Camp Rodney on the Chesapeake Bay. There, under the guidance of Skipper Shorts, Joe developed his love of sailing, as well as a taste for soft-shell crabs.

Despite the demands of vascular surgery, Joe was devoted to Donna and their children and grandchildren. As both “Dad” and “Granddad,” he was an enthusiastic regular at countless swim meets, soccer matches, and piano recitals. He also spent many summer vacations as the camp doctor at the Huron Mountain Club on Lake Superior. There he took immense joy in introducing his family to the outdoor life he loved as a Scout. Joe was an avid reader throughout his life (an inscribed book was one of his favorite gifts to give or receive!) and, together with Donna, he continued to be an enthusiastic international traveler long into retirement.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on May 11, 2024, at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 16200 West 12 Mile Rd., Southfield MI 48076. A luncheon in the church hall will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to the Henry Ford Hospital Non-Invasive Lab in the Division of Vascular Surgery through the Vascular Surgery Education & Research Fund.

Visit www.henryford.com/development and click “Donate Now.” Select a “Gift Amount” and choose “Direct my gift to.” Click on “Select a Program,” scroll to the bottom of the list, and click on “OTHER-please specify fund below.” Type in “Vascular Surgery Education & Research Fund, Non-Invasive Lab.” Fill out Donor Information and click “Submit.” Thank  you.