Dr. Feichter

Waynesville-Dr. Ralph Norbert Feichter, age 73, passed away on March 2, 2005 from complications due to Parkinson's disease. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 25, 1932, Dr. Feichter grew up in Chicago next to Wrigley Field, home of the "Chicago Cubs." He moved with his parents, Martha and Leo Feichter, and siblings, Rex, Ilse, and Mark to Waynesville at age 14, where he waited tables at his family's restaurant business, "The Lodge." He graduated from St. John's High School in Waynesville in 1949, attended Notre Dame University (1949 - - 1952) and Northwestern University Medical School (1953 - - 1956) in Chicago. He interned at Philadelphia General and did his Residency in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Following his residency, he served two years in the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander at the Charleston, S.C. Naval Hospital until he returned to Haywood County where he practiced internal medicine from 1964 until 1996. Dr. Feichter was known by his fellow physicians as, "The one who brought specialized medicine to Haywood County." He built a practice modeled on the Mayo Clinic's team approach by creating a multi-specialist practice where physicians are patient advocates who find solutions through consultation with each other as well as with national experts. His special interest in cardiac care helped establish one of the first Mobile Coronary Care Units in the U.S. The Haywood County Rescue Squad became nationally recognized as a leading community rescue service. In the early 1970's, Dr. Feichter was among the leadership citizens who championed the need for a new hospital. He served as Chairman of the Bond Issue and consulted prominent architect, Gordon Frieden, on "how to build the best community hospital in the nation." He was a charter member of the Haywood County Hospital Building Fund, which later became the Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation and was named the first Lifetime Honorary Trustee of the Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation in 1997. In 1998, the Ralph Feichter Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center was dedicated in his name. A humanitarian and an advocate for healthcare, Dr. Feichter was an avid runner, skier, world traveler, and an amateur photographer of nature. He ran in many marathons but was most proud of qualifying and running in the Boston Marathon three times. Dr. Feichter is preceded in death by his parents, Martha and Leopold Feichter and his brother, Mark Feichter. Surviving Dr. Feichter are his wife of 43 years, Mary Frank Feichter, six children, and fourteen grandchildren: Sarah and Allen Aldridge and Mary, Emily, Rachel, and Sophia of Marietta, GA; Martha and Morrie Ruffin and Ned, Carter, and Harry of Washington, DC; Leslie and Shada Mattern and Meredith, Lucas and Mackenzie, of Sevierville, TN; Eric Feichter of Waynesville; Rachel Feichter and Steven Wolfe and Helena, of Washington, DC; and Jennifer and Tim Moore and Jacob, Lydia and Micailah, of Lake Stevens, Washington. Also surviving him are his brothers, Rex Feichter of Waynesville, his sister, Ilse Shaw of Chapel Hill, his sister-in-law, Carol Feichter Binford, of Waynesville and their families. A memorial service celebrating the life of Dr. Feichter will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, 2005 in the Waynesville chapel of Wells Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Haywood County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1275, Canton, NC 28716 or Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation, 262 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721.