John Joseph Greenler, M.D., one of the essential orthopedic surgeon pioneers who not only introduced modern orthopedic surgery to his community, but also specialized in a form of orthopedic surgery that did not require blood transfusions.
Dr. Greenler, who was once called “The Ultimate Decent Man” by a local newspaper, passed away at the age of 98 in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
He had a private practice in orthopedic surgery in Lynn, Massachusetts, until he retired in 1996. In his practice, he performed orthopedic surgery utilizing techniques he learned during his time in the Koran War which was to perform surgery without blood transfusions.
Patients came to Dr. Greenler’s clinic from all over the U.S. to be treated by him.
His family said that he really cared about his patients. During a physician strike in the early 1980s, he continued to treat patients so they wouldn’t be without medical care. He would accept sweaters and other creative forms of payment, they said.
For his dedication, he was awarded the AtlantiCare Physician of Excellence Award in 1991. At the time, he was referred to as “the ultimate decent man” by the local newspaper. AtlantiCare is a health system in Lynn, Massachusetts.
Greenler also spent time as the president of the Boston College Alumni Club and as the vice-president of the Citizen for Civic Awareness and the Massachusetts Medical Society.
Dr. Greenler earned his medical degree from Tufts University Medical School in Boston in 1947. He then interned at Salem Hospital in Salem in 1948 and then did his surgical internship at Kings County in Brooklyn, New York, in 1949 after which he completed a surgical residency at Lynn Hospital in Lynn, Massachusetts.
Once he was done with his training, Dr. Greenler served in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps from 1950 to 1952 at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan, which was during the Korean War. He and his unit received the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon.
Greenler was born on December 3, 1924, in Boxford, Massachusetts, to Mabel Louise and Dr. William Jeremiah Greenler. He grew up with seven siblings on a dairy farm. It was his job to milk the cows after school and he was witness to the introduction of both electricity and the telephone.
He graduated as the Salutatorian of his class from Johnson High School in North Andover, Massachusetts, and attended Boston College through the Navy V-5 program.
Greenler married his wife of over 64 years Gertrude in 1952 in California at Camp Pendleton. They had four children together, Patricia, Carl, Daniel, and Kathleen. She passed away in 2016. He was also predeceased by his grandson Donald J. Anthony and all his siblings, William J. Greenler, Jr., Mary G. Christian, Helen F. McLaughlin, Margaret C. Meader Brisson, James L. Greenler, Philip H. Greenler, and baby Rose.
He is survived by his children and his grandchildren, Andrew J. Greenler, Robert J. Greenler, Maria K. Greenler, and Declan J. Sexton.
