Elliot Wilson Strong

Dr. Elliot W. Strong passed away Sunday, December 19 at the age of 91. He is survived by his loving family: Scott Strong, Patricia Strong, and grandchildren Thomas and Kristen of Floral Park, NY; Keith Strong, Tina Gorski-Strong and grandchildren Alexandra, Taylor, and Kaileigh of Webster, MA; and Karen Strong Reinhardt and grandchildren Kelsey and Zachary of Underhill, VT. He is also survived by his dear companion, Margaret (Peggy) Bam. His beloved wife, Marjorie, predeceased him in 2012.

Dr. Strong graduated with honors from Tufts College in 1952 and from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1956. He was an intern and resident in surgery at Hartford Hospital in CT from 1956-1961. On completion of his training, he was appointed to the staff of the Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. In 1969, he became Chief of the Head and Neck Service, a position he held until 1992. Dr. Strong served on committees for the Society of Head and Neck Surgeons, the American Radium Society, the American Cancer Society, the Society for Surgical Oncology, and the American College of Surgeons. He was co-program chair for the first two international head and neck conferences and was the first president of the New York Head and Neck Society from 1979-1981. He was also president of the Society of Head and Neck Surgeons from 1980-81, and president of the American Radium Society from 1989-1990. He was Chairman of the Head and Neck Contacts Program at the National Cancer Institute, leading the most expensive and extensive research study of the impact of chemotherapy on head and neck cancer to date.

While Dr. Strong was dedicated to serving his profession, he was most devoted to his patients. When he stepped down from Chief of Head and Neck Surgery, hundreds of his patients attended his reception and thanked him for his dedication and extraordinary care.

Dr. Strong retired in July 1999, and brought his dedication, commitment, and deep caring to our family’s church, Huguenot Memorial in Pelham Manor, NY. He served there in many capacities, as Ruling Elder, Chair of the Building and Grounds Committee, tree-hauler at the annual Christmas Tree Sale, and painter of anything needing painting. Our family will most miss our dad in our times together at our family camp in NH, where Dad could finally relax, and his sense of humor would most come through. We miss him dearly. A celebration of life will be held in the new year. If you would like details, please email karenstrongreinhardt@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to any of the following: 1) Huguenot Memorial Church, 901 Pelhamdale Avenue, Pelham, NY 10803. 2) The Dr. Elliot W. and Marjorie Strong Endowed Scholarship Fund at Tufts Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine, Office of Alumni Relations and Development, 136 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02111, Attn: Carrie Thomas OR online at go.tufts.edu/estrong; 3) Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Online donations may be made using the following link: http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/Dr_ElliotWStrong. Checks, made payable to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, should be mailed to: Attn: Community Fundraising, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Office of Development, PO Box 27106, New York, NY 10087. Please indicate on the check memo line that the gift is in memory of Dr. Elliot W. Strong.