Dr.
Dr. Morton Reitman
d. March 3, 2014
On Monday, March 3, 2014 Dr. Morton Reitman, 95, of Frederick Maryland , beloved father of Lynn (Stephen)Greenfield of Bethesda Maryland, Marci (Jeffrey) Garson of Chappaqua New York, dear grandfather of Evan and Elizabeth Greenfield, Brett and Tosh Garson and dear brother Seymour Reitman. Dr. Reitman was born on February 18th, 1919 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, but he spent most of his life in Frederick Maryland, with his wife of 44 years, Teri, and their two daughters. After the death of his first wife, Dr. Reitman was remarried to Leah Kotlicky in 1992.
Morty Reitman was man of significant accomplishments and contributions in two very diverse fields. In 1937, he arrived by train in Lexington, Kentucky with his saxophone in tow. He had been accepted to Transylvania College on a full music scholarship, yet in 1941 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and chemistry. In order to help pay for his continuing education, Dr. Reitman played the clarinet and saxophone in his spare time with various bands including Count Basie and Benny Goodman, as well as the orchestras which played for the Ice Capades and such Broadway musicals as “Hold on to Your Hats” and “On the Town”. In 1950 Dr. Reitman received his Masters in Bacteriology from the University of Kentucky and in 1955, after attending night classes, he earned his PHD in microbiology from George Washington University. After six years of joint research and much determination, in 1971, while working as a medical researcher for Fort Detrick, Maryland, which operated as a bio-weapons facility at the time, Dr. Reitman developed the first vaccine for typhoid fever, named Reitman’s Vaccine. Initial tests proved Reitman’s vaccine a success, as 83% of the patients who were vaccinated were protected from the disease.
Dr. Reitman also worked as the Director of the Grants program at the National Institutes of Health’s division of Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland. Before retiring, he remained a medical consultant for the government well into his 80’s. Still, it was at this period in his life that the microbiologist was able to devote his time to his true love of music. Reitman played in 3 bands until the age of 89, including the Frederick Symphony Orchestra, a local jazz band and a barbershop quartet. On Thursdays, you could often find him jamming late into the night at a downtown Frederick bar with musicians barely half his age. The clarinetist never failed to receive a standing ovation as he strutted to the microphone, a string of melodious notes streaming from his beloved horn.
Dr. Reitman was also a lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force where his primary position was operating what was then a brand new technology called radar. Reitman was also a member of the American Society for Microbiology, the Research Society of America and Sigma Xi. His biography contains more than 30 publications.
Leah Reitman’s children, Michael Kotlicky, Susanne Powell, and David Kotlicky also survive him, as well as seven step grandchildren, Avi, Rebecca, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Rachael and Lisa and two great step grandchildren, Ruthie and Eli.
Funeral services will be held at Beth Sholom Congregation, 1011 North Market Street, Frederick on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 11:00AM.
Interment will be in Solomon Garden Section at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Frederick, Maryland.
Shiva will be observed Wednesday evening at the home of Lynn and Stephen Greenfield.
Memorial contributions may be made to Beth Sholom Congregation, 1011 North Market St., Frederick, MD 21701.
Morty Reitman was man of significant accomplishments and contributions in two very diverse fields. In 1937, he arrived by train in Lexington, Kentucky with his saxophone in tow. He had been accepted to Transylvania College on a full music scholarship, yet in 1941 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and chemistry. In order to help pay for his continuing education, Dr. Reitman played the clarinet and saxophone in his spare time with various bands including Count Basie and Benny Goodman, as well as the orchestras which played for the Ice Capades and such Broadway musicals as “Hold on to Your Hats” and “On the Town”. In 1950 Dr. Reitman received his Masters in Bacteriology from the University of Kentucky and in 1955, after attending night classes, he earned his PHD in microbiology from George Washington University. After six years of joint research and much determination, in 1971, while working as a medical researcher for Fort Detrick, Maryland, which operated as a bio-weapons facility at the time, Dr. Reitman developed the first vaccine for typhoid fever, named Reitman’s Vaccine. Initial tests proved Reitman’s vaccine a success, as 83% of the patients who were vaccinated were protected from the disease.
Dr. Reitman also worked as the Director of the Grants program at the National Institutes of Health’s division of Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland. Before retiring, he remained a medical consultant for the government well into his 80’s. Still, it was at this period in his life that the microbiologist was able to devote his time to his true love of music. Reitman played in 3 bands until the age of 89, including the Frederick Symphony Orchestra, a local jazz band and a barbershop quartet. On Thursdays, you could often find him jamming late into the night at a downtown Frederick bar with musicians barely half his age. The clarinetist never failed to receive a standing ovation as he strutted to the microphone, a string of melodious notes streaming from his beloved horn.
Dr. Reitman was also a lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force where his primary position was operating what was then a brand new technology called radar. Reitman was also a member of the American Society for Microbiology, the Research Society of America and Sigma Xi. His biography contains more than 30 publications.
Leah Reitman’s children, Michael Kotlicky, Susanne Powell, and David Kotlicky also survive him, as well as seven step grandchildren, Avi, Rebecca, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Rachael and Lisa and two great step grandchildren, Ruthie and Eli.
Funeral services will be held at Beth Sholom Congregation, 1011 North Market Street, Frederick on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 11:00AM.
Interment will be in Solomon Garden Section at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Frederick, Maryland.
Shiva will be observed Wednesday evening at the home of Lynn and Stephen Greenfield.
Memorial contributions may be made to Beth Sholom Congregation, 1011 North Market St., Frederick, MD 21701.
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