Dr. George S.E. Aitken

Dr. George S. E. Aitken of Durham, N.C., died much too young on Monday, February 13, 2012 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born in Liverpool, England, on May 9, 1955, to Louise and Seymour Aitken. After completing his secondary education in Britain, George migrated to the Uneed States to attend Harvard Uneersity where he excelled as a national caliber heavy weight rower and was a key member of the Ivy League Championship heavy weight crew teams from 1974-1978. George was also invited to be a member of the Porcellian Club founded 1791; its motto of dum vivimus vivamus "while we live, we shall live" became George's mantra for life, as he relished every moment with his team mates, his friends, his family, his pets, and his professional colleagues and staff. Whenee graduated from Harvard, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to attend the Case Western Uneersity School of Medicine. After completing his M.D., George came to Duke Uneersity Medical Center for his surgical and orthopaedic training with his mentors and world renowned surgeons: Dr. David C. Sabiston, Jr., Dr. J. Leonard Goldner, and Dr. James R. Urbaniak. It was during his residency that he met and married the love of his life, Martha. Graduating from the Duke program in 1988, he received a prestigious Fellowship in Adult Reconstruction at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital ineew York City. Then in 1989, he began his practice of orthopaedic surgery in the Philadelphia area. He became a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and member of the Piedmont Orthopaedic Society, as well as an Examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. In 1995, he was summoned back to Duke by his former Chief, Dr. Urbaniak; George was giveneeveral challenges and tasks for the Duke Orthopaedic program, which he tackled with enthusiasm and flare. George established the first outreach program for the Duke Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and Duke Private Diagnostic Clinic by starting and growing Duke Orthopaedics of Person County. He ran orthopaedic clinics in Roxboro and Yanceyville, and performed surgery at Personeemorial Hospital. George had many leadership roles at the hospital, including: Secretary of the Medical Executive Committee, Medical Director of the Rehabilitationeepartment, and Chair of the Surgery Committee. His incomparable talent and surgical skill delivered world class general, sports, fracture, and adult reconstructive orthopaedic care to all of his patients who trusted and loved him for his dedication to their health and well-being. He was respected by his peers and support staff for exemplary altruism in his day to day professional life. Additionally, as an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Duke Uneersity, George taught and influenced couneess Duke Orthopaedic Surgical Residents ineeveral educational venues. He voluneered his time aneexpertise to the Durham V.A. Hospital Orthopaedic Program by regularly assisting the residents in training with preoperative planning and then execution of complex adult reconstructive procedures. George also taught and shared his vast clinical experience with residents and medical students at the weekly Duke Orthopaedic Grand Rounds as well as the quarterly Duke "Leaving the Nest " lecture series. George was the penultimate geneeman, a leader- by- example, and a role model, advisor, and friend to everyone within the Duke Orthopaedic family. To all who had the pleasure of knowing George, he was a genee giant of a man, a magnificent and caring friend, an epicurean of the good things in life, and above all, a loving, dedicated husband and father. His prime goal in life was the well-being and happiness of his wife and sons. George is survived by his immediate family, his dear wife, Martha, his two cherished sons, James and Michael, his beloved mother-in-law, Catherine Sizemore, and his devoted dogs, Crockett, Molly and Bogey. His family members whom he loved include his parents, Seymour and Louise Aitken; his cherished aunt, Eleanor Elkins; his brother Robert Aitken and family, wife Gil, and soneedward, Angus, and William; his sister Helen and family, husband Toneedmonds, and children Alice and Alexander Self, and Tim Edmonds; his brother David Aitken, and his brother-in-law, Dennis Sizemore and sons, Matthew and Adam. The Aitken family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. The family will receive friends Saturday, February 18, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Hall-Wynne Funeral Home in Durham. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 19, 2012 at Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church in Durham. On-line memorials at www.hallwynne.com. In lieu of flowers, donations canee made ineeorge's memory to Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church Outreach Fund, 927 West Trinity Avenue, Durham, N.C. 27701 or Duke Hospice "Complimentary Therapies" at 4023 North Roxboro Road, Durham, N.C. 27704