Tributes from Colleagues
Charlie was an extremely talented surgeon and a valued member of our organization. He took great pride in leading and teaching. We all learned a great deal from him about neurosurgery and life in general. Along with his family, his patients were always the top priority. He will be greatly missed.
– Arthur Arand, MD
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Charlie’s many contributions to the academic and research missions of the UC Department of Neurosurgery and leadership within the UC Medical Center will be sorely missed. He was well respected as a leading spine surgeon and scholar. He was a dedicated and loving father. He enjoyed and contributed to the fine arts of the Cincinnati community. God bless Charlie.
– Mario Zuccarello, MD
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“I am in total shock and disbelief that Charlie is gone. I can remember Charlie Kuntz coming to the Mayfield Clinic when I was just a resident. He changed the world of spine surgery for me forever. He brought a systematic and scientific way of looking at the spine that I had never seen before. His understanding of the spine was unparalleled and I have learned so much from his as I know is true of countless other residents, fellows, and students. I can tell countless stories of Charlie, but I think the story that reminds me the most of Charlie is his story about “carrying the message to Garcia”. To me this symbolized Charlie’s own “get the job done” attitude which he expected of everyone else and which few others could live up to like Charlie could. Charlie – I learned so much from you. You are gone too soon and we will miss you.”
– Christopher M. McPherson, MD
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Charlie was a world-renowned spinal deformity expert whose classification system became the gold standard for determining which patients would benefit from surgery. He was a true academician and a mentor to innumerable residents. He raised the profile of our department throughout his illustrious career.
Charlie was a loyal Mayfield partner who was our group’s “seismograph”. He was so well connected nationally that he could detect changes in the neurosurgery long before they became apparent to the average neurosurgeon. He commanded the respect of his colleagues and helped steer Mayfield Clinic in a positive direction.
Charlie will be remembered as a friend who always had time to listen and provide advice to his colleagues. His laugh was infectious and would bring a smile to everyone around him. I will sorely miss our daily interactions that brought greater meaning to my life. Rest in peace Charlie.
– Ronald E. Warnick, MD
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A tribute to my friend Charlie:
Tall, blonde, very smart, that’s Charlie. While getting to know him, I quickly found out that we were very close in age and that we grew up just a few miles apart in Cincinnati. We didn’t know each other back then, but we probably just missed each other at science fair, not ever imagining that we would one day be partners.
Just about every Monday I would walk into the OR, and there was Charlie. “How are you, George?” he would always say, in a near-formal manner, though I knew what he was thinking and I would give him some sarcastic reply, which he expected. It was our Monday morning routine.
Last Monday came and there was no “how are you George?” Wow, there will no longer be any more of that, I thought. This kind of loss, so utterly complete, can only fill you with a deep sadness. Permanency!
My thoughts are of him frequently, and as such I seem to be more aware of what type of person he was, now that I have time to reflect. Sad also that it is only now that I do this, and not while he was with us. As I reflect, better late than not at all, I think of what Charlie would have wanted or how he would have wanted to be remembered. Many of us knew Charlie and his “ways.” But now, looking forward, many of his “ways” were good. He was a loving and honorable man. Careful to an extreme, but always wanting to do the right thing. Also, he wanted to make things better — a better surgery! This was Charlie, a true academician, a neurosurgeon-scholar.
In remembrance of Charlie, I implore those of you who knew him to heed his “ways” and think about what it is that you can do better. In honor of him, make your lives and the lives you touch better in whatever way you can. I am sure he will look down from Heaven and smile approvingly: “Yeah, I would have done that too.”
– George Mandybur, MD
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Sixteen years ago, we had a major need at UC and Mayfield for a scholar, clinician neurosurgeon to bring sophisticated spine surgery to our region. A call to Dr. Richard Winn in Seattle led to an immediate answer to our need. Dr. Winn responded that not only did he have the ideal candidate for our position, but Charlie Kuntz would be coming home.
Fortunately for all of us at UC and Mayfield, Charlie came home to join his family and many friends. His meteoric rise in acclaim and creativity is the stuff of legends. Charlie became the physician-surgeon for all people, teacher extra-ordinary and friend without peer.
Charlie, we love you and will always appreciate your humor, loving compassion and enviable ability to create a miracle repair when only you could imagine a solution to an impossible problem in the spine. Charlie, you had the passion to listen and the courage to fashion a successful proposal.
Rest in peace dear friend.
– John and Susan Tew
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Dear Dr. Kuntz, I don’t know if I ever expressed to you enough what a significant impact you have had on my career. Sitting looking at your remembrance and picture I regret not having told you this more often. – Andy Grande, MD Read more from Dr. Grande
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Charlie was such a great guy. I can’t believe he is gone. He cared a lot about his patients and the staff, too. He always strived to do the right thing and to get people to look at problems or challenges from a different angle. Rest in peace, Dr. Kuntz.
– Tom Rosenberger
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Charlie Kuntz was neurosurgery’s marathon man. He labored quietly and determinedly through cases that took hours upon hours to complete. He was brave, a savior to his patients, but he never sought the limelight. He was always kind to me, and I will miss him dearly.
– Cindy Starr
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There are no words great enough to express what Dr Kuntz has meant to me. He taught me an enormous amount through the years that I was lucky enough to work with him, not just in medicine but in life as well. Fresh out of school he hired me and taught me everything I know about Neurosurgery of the spine. He showed me what it means to truly care for patients, not just with surgical skill and knowledge but with compassion. No matter the obstacle, if it was the right thing to do for a patient, he found a way to do it. He cared greatly for his family and those he worked along side. He strived everyday to be the best father, colleague, boss, surgeon and friend he could be. He put more effort into serving others in one day than many do in a lifetime. He will be missed by so many. May God rest your soul good friend.
– Jeff Holtz, PA-C
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Charlie Kuntz was a brilliant surgeon, especially in the area of complex spinal surgeries, but he also had the soul of an artist. We at the Opera have benefitted in several significant and enduring ways because his of ability to think outside the box, and help us create programs that connect music and healing. Charlie assisted with the Opera’s regional premiere of Silent Night in 2014, and the extensive, year-long community programming we presented in conjunction with it. Of note was the World War I symposium hosted by the University of Cincinnati that attracted attendees from all over the country. He also provided the inspiration for Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC) to forge a partnership to bring musical performances to the UCMC campus and expert voice health care to professional and amateur singers throughout the region … In a remembrance by the Mayfield Clinic, he was called a miracle worker. I can certainly attest to that. After suffering for more than a year with a severe spinal injury, Charlie Kuntz operated on me last March, and literally gave me back my life. I know I join the legion of his patients who feel that he was indeed a miracle worker who saved lives. His legacy will continue to touch lives and inspire people for generations.
– Patty Beggs
Loved by his patients
Dr. Kuntz was cherished by his patients. Here are a few excerpts from the many letters he has received during his career:
“I came back when no one thought I would. Not many days go by when I don’t think of Dr. Kuntz. He saved my life. With all of the pain meds I was on, I don’t think I could be alive today if I had continued down that path.” — M
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“We’ve never been doctor-type people. We didn’t run to the doctor just because we had the sniffles. When we found Dr. Kuntz we were skeptical. We weren’t sure that he could really help us. But every time we met with him he proved he was the right person and that he had our best interests at heart above everything else.” — J&B
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“This has been quite a journey. Little did I know the turn the road would take when I went to work one day in August 2013. Since I have never faced any real medical issues outside of dealing with diabetes for 40+ years, not being able to use my hand and being in pain was quite a shock. I am so grateful to you and your staff for the immediate response to my needs, the thorough evaluation prior to surgery, and your skillful hands and judgment in helping me get back to a more normal life. It was a very uneasy time not knowing what would lie ahead. I was able to return to work and am happy to be productive and more fully functioning at this time … Everyone that my wife and I encountered in your office and the hospital was so very kind and helpful. Marla Smith was so efficient and great at answering questions. I know your schedule is very full and I am very appreciative of you seeing me so quickly. Had we waited for months to have the issue addressed, I most likely would not have returned to work. Please share my thanks with your staff. We’ve spread the good word about the Mayfield Clinic to any who ask.” — JB
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“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Mayfield Clinic on how pleased I was with your commitment to your patients. Dr. Charles Kuntz and his peers performed surgery on me in January 2005. Dr. Kuntz was an awesome person as well as a marvelous surgeon. It’s difficult to just say thank you when someone has given you back a portion of your life that hasn’t existed for such a longtime, which is feeling in some parts of my body. I have been dealing with some of these problems for over eighteen years. Mayfield Clinic is very fortunate to have a doctor with his talents. Once again, thank you Dr. Charles Kuntz, IV. My family and I thank you so very much. May God continue to bless you and your family.” — BJK
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“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read my MRI and refer me to Dr. Kuntz. I had surgery, spinal fusion six weeks ago and am recovering well. I am so grateful to you for connecting me with such a great doctor and medical team. The Mayfield experience has been wonderful and I am confident that this surgery will change the quality of my life.” — JC
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It is with such sadness that I write to say how sorry I am for your loss and all who were friends and colleagues of Dr. Kuntz. I have counted our blessings every day for the successful surgery performed by Dr. Kuntz, and I can’t say how often I’ve thought about him. Wednesday, the final day of inpatient classes, Jim wore a t-shirt he was given at UC Medical that said, ” My Choice / University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute.” I was up at 5:30 on Thursday morning and made a thank you card for Dr. Kuntz with a photo I’d taken. Just a couple of hours later we got word of his passing. I cried for his family and friends, his coworkers and the Cincinnati community, and for not sending a personal message of thanks sooner. I’ll not forgive myself for that. May Dr. Kuntz rest in peace. How I wish he could have worked miracles on people in need for another twenty years and been there to see his children grow old. — MPSH
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