January 13, 2012  

LOWVILLE, N.Y.  —  John Clinton Herrman, M.D., 84, of North State Street, died at his home on Thursday morning, Jan. 12, under the care of his longtime companion.

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 30, at Iseneker Funeral Home, Inc., Lowville. Calling hours are 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at the funeral home. Flowers are gratefully declined. 

Dr. Herrman has donated his body to the Anatomical Gift Program at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Flowers are gratefully declined.

Born Oct. 26, 1927, in Philadelphia, Pa., a son of the late Clinton S. and Juliet Kind Herrman and graduated from Central High School of Philadelphia; in June 1945 and Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., in June, 1949 and Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pa., in June 1953.  

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II; Medical Department, Army of United States from October 26, 1944 - February 28, 1947.  He did his internship at Jefferson Medical College Hospital from 7/53 – 6/54.  He was Registered Ship’s Surgeon (Staff Officer) U.S. Coast Guard in September, 1954; and did a fellowship in General Surgery at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota for 36 months 1/55-12/57.  He was Senior & Chief Resident – Surgery at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio for five months in 1959.  He is certified a Diplomat by the American Board of Surgery on March 13, 1961, a Diplomat by American Board of Forensic Medicine in 1997, and by American Board of Medico Legal Death Investigator in February, 1999.

He did fellowships with the American College of Surgeons in October, 1968, and International College of Surgeons in 1961.  He also did a fellowship with American Academy of Forensic Sciences in February 1998.  He served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery from 1973-1996 at Sate University of New York, Health Science Center, Syracuse.  His hospital appointments were:  Lewis County General Hospital, Lowville, from December, 1964 –retirement from active staff in February, 1998.  He was chief of Surgery from 1965-1990; President of Medical Staff from 1965-1989; Medical Director from 1988-1990; Member of the Board of Managers/Trustees from February 15, 1998-present; Carthage Area Hospital, Carthage, retired in 1994.  He was consulting surgeon from 1965-1994; Acting Chief of Surgery from 1992-1993.

Dr. Herrman’s Professional Societies include: American Medical Association 1960-present, AMA Hospital Staff Section, AMA Delegate from July, 1983-July, 1995; AMA Chair Teller’s Committee; AMA Member Reference & Late Resolutions Committees, AMA New York State Caucus Chair from 1985-1988; AMA NYS Section Chair from 1988-1993; Medical Society State of New York from 1964-present, MSSNY House of Delegates, Lewis County, from 1975-1996; MSSNY House of Delegates; NYS Society of Surgeons/NY Chapter ACS from 1997-2003.  Past Chair of MSSNY Reference Committee, Member Teller’s Committee and Sgt. Of Arms; MSSNY Emergency Medical Services Committee, Past Chair; Forensic Medicine Committee; member State Legislative Planning Committee, Past member of PRO Oversight Committee; Past President of Fifth District Branch (4 years); MSSNY Hospital Medical Staff Section; Delegate from inception, 1984-1996, Member of Governing Council, from 1984-1994, Chair Governing Council from 1989-1993; Ex-officio Member MSSNY Council from 1990-1993; Lewis County Medical Society from 1964-present, serving as Past President in the early 1970’s and June, 1992-June, 1994, was Sec.-Treasurer from July, 1994-June, 1997; Member of Central New York Academy of Medicine from 1966-Feb. 1998; CNY Surgical Society from 1968-February, 1998; NYS Society of Surgeons from 1970’s – 2002; NYSSS Board of Directors from 1988-2002, serving as Secretary from 1993-1995, President Elect from 1995-1997 and President from 1997 – May, 1999; Eastern Association of Surgery for Trauma (“EAST”), Sr. Member- retired; American College of Surgeons from October, 1968 to present; ACS  NY Chapter; Council member & delegate to MSSNY from March, 2002-April, 2004, NYS Committee on Trauma from March 11, 1977-September, 1997, retired; Priestly Society from 1960-February, 1998. His memberships to Forensic Societies include: N.Y. State Association of County Coroner’s and Medical Examiner, from 1985-present, serving as First Vice President from 1985-1993, Executive Vice President from 1993 to present; International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners from 1985 to present, serving on the board of consultants from 1988 – 1995, 2^nd Vice President in 1996, President Elect in 1997, President from June 1998 -June 1999, Chair of Board of Trustees from June, 2000 to present; American Academy of Forensic Sciences from 1987- present, Fellowship in 1998, American Academy of Forensic Medicine, 1997, Serving on Diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Medicine in 1997; American Board of Medico legal Death Investigators; Diplomat Certified in 1999; Charter Member of International Homicide Investigators Association, from 1988-present, serving on advisory board from October, 2003-October, 2005.

Lewis County Public Offices held by Dr. Herman:  Deputy Sheriff, August, 1970; Lieutenant – Sheriff’s Dept., March, 1992; Undersheriff, November, 2003; Retired from Sherriff’s Dept. in December 31, 2003; Chief Deputy Coroner, 1965- May, 2008; Medical Director, Office of Emergency Management from 1965-2003; Jail Physician from 1974-November, 2003; Local Health Officer (multiple towns and villages) from 1974- present; Medical Director, County Public Health Service from 1989 – present; Medical Director- Consultant, County Dept. of Social Services, 1989-2008; Lewis County General Hospital Board of Managers from February, 1998-present; Chairman of Traffic Safety Board from 1988-present; Project Manager of 911 Program from August 1998-June 30, 2002; 911 Oversight Committee, member from February, 2003-present, serving as Vice Chair; Vice President and Treasurer for Lewis County Humane Society from March, 1998 – August, 2011; Fire Advisory Board from 1992-1998; Handicapped Parking Program Coordinator from April, 2000 to present; EMS Coordinator from 1996- present; Assistant Jefferson County Medical Examiner from 2000 – present.  Member of NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles Medical Advisory Board from 1998-present; NYS Dept. of Health OPMC, Expert Consultant from 1998-present; NYS Education Dept. Board of Medicine, Member from 2000-present; Notary Public from 1970’s – present.  Member of National Disaster Medical Services, U.S. Public Health Services, 1992-present; Active Duty (Medical Examiner “DMORT”; five times; Flood, Albany, Ga., July, 1996; Hurricane “Marilyn”, St. Thomas VI, 1995; Olympics, Atlanta, GA-July 1996; TWA-800 crash, LI, NY, July 1996; “9/11/01” WTC, NYC , Sept., 2001.

He was Past President of North Country Comprehensive Planning, Inc.; Past member, Executive Committee, Central NY Health systems Agency; Past Member of NYS Consortium of HAS’s; Former Trustee, Hospital Review and Planning Council of CNY.

Member, since inception of North Country Regional Emergency Medical Services Council, (1979), serving as Vice Chair from 1979-1987 and Chair from 1988-2000; CNY- Air Medical Services, Coordinating Committee from 1990 to date; Member of NYS Emergency Medical Services Council; Civilian “MAST” Coordinating Committee, Chair since inception; Lewis County EMS Council, member since inception, (mid 1970’s), serving as Secretary-Treasurer from 1994-1997 and Vice Chair from 1997 - 2011.

Dr. Herrman was a former Eagle Scout (with Bronze Palm) and Adult Scout Leader, Former Medical Director and Assistant Security Director for Watkins Glen Grand Prix, Inc. from 1970-1983.  He was a member of BPOE #1605, Lowville Lodge, Lowville American Legion #162, and Phi Delta Epsilon.  He was a former ACS ATLS Instructor.  He attended the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA in January, 1985, March, 1993 and September, 2000.  He also attended Federal Emergency Management Academy in Emmetsburg, MD in January, 1993.

Surviving are his companion since June, 1974, Marcia Roberts Myers; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Kathleen Herrman, Clearwater, Fla., Kimberly and John Berry of Chardon, Ohio, Lisa and Mark Coming, Chagrin Falls, Ohio; a sister and brother-in-law, Teresa and Kenneth Kron, Rydal Park, Pa.; five grandchildren, Clinton Gibson, Julia Coming Catherine Berry, Celina and John Coming; three nieces and a cousin.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lewis County General Hospital Foundation, 7785 N. State Street, Lowville, NY 13367 or the Lewis County Humane Society, P.O. Box 682, Lowville, NY 13367. 

Condolences may be made online at www.isenekerfuneralhome.com.







Information provided by Iseneker Funeral Home of Lowville and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.