Arthur Sheldon Besser

Arthur Sheldon Besser was born March 25, 1935 at Mount Sinai Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio to Morris Besser (1906-1977) and Florence Besser(1911-2003). He grew up in the Community Temple in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where he was a Bar Mitzvah in 1948. He graduated Cleveland Heights High School in 1953 and Ohio State University with a B.S. degree in 1957. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu (SAMMIES) fraternity. While at Ohio State, he met his wife of 50 years Carol Beth Grossman. Arthur attended Thomas Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA. where he graduated in 1961. Following graduation, Arthur and his new family returned to Cleveland, where he was and intern and a resident at Mount Sinai Hospital. From 1963-1965, Dr. Besser served as a doctor and captain in the United States Air Force at the Hunter Air Force Base in Savannah, Georgia. From 1965-1967, he served as a surgical resident at Mount Sinai Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was chief surgical resident 1966-67. In 1967 he moved to Chicago for a residency in pediatric surgery. Arthur served until 1978 at Children's Memorial Hospital as a pediatric surgical resident and went into private practice. He served on the staff at Lutheran General Hospital, Northwest Suburban Hospital, and Cook County Hospital, all in the Chicago area. In 1972 Arthur returned to Children's Memorial Hospital to become certified as a pediatric surgeon. In 1977, Arthur was named Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. After a period in private practice in Las Vegas, Arthur and Carol moved to Macon, Georgia, where he became Chief of Pediatric Surgery at the Medical Center of Georgia and associate professor at Mercer University. He also received a Masters in Public Health Administration from Mercer University. Dr. Besser is survived by his wife, Carol; his children, Daniel Besser and his wife, Anne Cucchiara-Besser, David Besser and Deborah Oliner and her husband, Henry; his grandchildren, Russell and Victoria Cucchiara-Besser and Natalie Oliner; and his brother, Howard Besser and his wife, Barbara. Graveside services will be at 11:00AM, Friday, May 14, 2010 at Rose Hill Cemetery with Rabbi Rachel Bat-Or officiating. The family asks that donations be made to The Children's Hospital, 888 Pine Street, Macon 31201. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory at the Cupola has charge of arrangements.