ARTHUR C. UNSWORTH, MD BY Henry L. Birge, MD
ARTHUR C. UNSWORTH DIED FEBRUARY 4, 1978, AFTER a long illness, in the Hartford Hospital. He was one of the most respected ophthalmologists in Connecticut and practiced in Hartford for 34 years. He was a long-time member of the American Ophthalmological Society, having been elected in 1949. He was born March 24, 1905, in New York City. He received a BS from the University of Vermont in 1928 and his MD was also from Vermont in 1931. He received a DMSc from Columbia University in 1936, after 36 months as a resident in the Eye Institute, Presbyterian Hospital, New York. He entered active clinical practice in
21 Necrology Hartford in 1936, under the tutelage of Dr E. Terry Smith, a distinguished leader of Hartford Ophthalmology, and also a member of the American Ophthalmological Society. He was certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology in 1937. He was appointed Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology in Hartford Hospital in 1941, but his practice was interrupted in 1942 by World War II, during which he served as Chief of the Eye Department in the Air Force Hospital at Miami Beach with rank of Lieutenant Colonel, until 1946. He was also an Air Force Medical Examiner. When he returned to practice in Hartford after the war, he was again made Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology in Hartford Hospital, a position he held with honor until his retirement in 1970, during which time the eye staff grew from 6 active members to 27. He became an active consultant in many other hospitals throughout Connecticut, including Middletown, New Britain, Torrington, Manchester, Norwich, and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Newington. He was Vice-President of the Hartford Hospital Staff in 1954, and again in 1959, and served on many committees for the staff throughout his life. He was active in local, state, and national medical societies, being President of the Eye Section, Connecticut State Medical Society, in 1965, and Treasurer of the Hartford Medical Society in 1955. He was a Director of the National Society for Prevention of Blindness, and later a Vice-President of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Society for Prevention of Blindness. He served on the research committee of the Hartford Hospital from 1947-'55. He was an active member of the New England Ophthalmological Society, and the College of Surgeons, as well as the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Doctor Unsworth was quietly committed to encouraging the staff to initiate new types of therapy in the Hartford Hospital. His many happy entertainments of his colleagues in his home and at various national meetings are fondly remembered by his friends. His aid and assistance in grooming a few of them for the A.O.S. have resulted in some worthwhile new members of A.O.S. After his retirement in 1970, largely due to having both eyes operated upon for cataract and glaucoma, he moved to his beloved Center Harbor, New Hampshire where he enjoyed the mountains, the lake, and the country life. He became an emeritus member of the American Ophthalmological Society in 1975.
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Necrology
Doctor Unsworth was married to Virginia Trainer Unsworth on July 14, 1934 in New York City. He is survived by his wife, five children, and twelve grandchildren. His children are: Mrs. Jacqueline U. Davis, Canton Center, Ct.; Mr. Richard Unsworth, Whitefield, N.H-.; Mr. Thomas Unsworth, Burlington, Vt.; Mrs. Barbara U. Washburn, West Hartford, Ct.; Mr. David Unsworth, West Hartford, Ct. Our sympathies are extended to his family. His devotion to his family, the American Ophthalmological Society, and the Hartford Hospital were outstanding landmarks of a good life. His eminently successful ophthalmic practice did much good for the citizens of Hartford and Connecticut.
ARTHUR C. UNSWORTH DIED FEBRUARY 4, 1978, AFTER a long illness, in the Hartford Hospital. He was one of the most respected ophthalmologists in Connecticut and practiced in Hartford for 34 years. He was a long-time member of the American Ophthalmological Society, having been elected in 1949. He was born March 24, 1905, in New York City. He received a BS from the University of Vermont in 1928 and his MD was also from Vermont in 1931. He received a DMSc from Columbia University in 1936, after 36 months as a resident in the Eye Institute, Presbyterian Hospital, New York. He entered active clinical practice in
21 Necrology Hartford in 1936, under the tutelage of Dr E. Terry Smith, a distinguished leader of Hartford Ophthalmology, and also a member of the American Ophthalmological Society. He was certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology in 1937. He was appointed Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology in Hartford Hospital in 1941, but his practice was interrupted in 1942 by World War II, during which he served as Chief of the Eye Department in the Air Force Hospital at Miami Beach with rank of Lieutenant Colonel, until 1946. He was also an Air Force Medical Examiner. When he returned to practice in Hartford after the war, he was again made Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology in Hartford Hospital, a position he held with honor until his retirement in 1970, during which time the eye staff grew from 6 active members to 27. He became an active consultant in many other hospitals throughout Connecticut, including Middletown, New Britain, Torrington, Manchester, Norwich, and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Newington. He was Vice-President of the Hartford Hospital Staff in 1954, and again in 1959, and served on many committees for the staff throughout his life. He was active in local, state, and national medical societies, being President of the Eye Section, Connecticut State Medical Society, in 1965, and Treasurer of the Hartford Medical Society in 1955. He was a Director of the National Society for Prevention of Blindness, and later a Vice-President of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Society for Prevention of Blindness. He served on the research committee of the Hartford Hospital from 1947-'55. He was an active member of the New England Ophthalmological Society, and the College of Surgeons, as well as the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Doctor Unsworth was quietly committed to encouraging the staff to initiate new types of therapy in the Hartford Hospital. His many happy entertainments of his colleagues in his home and at various national meetings are fondly remembered by his friends. His aid and assistance in grooming a few of them for the A.O.S. have resulted in some worthwhile new members of A.O.S. After his retirement in 1970, largely due to having both eyes operated upon for cataract and glaucoma, he moved to his beloved Center Harbor, New Hampshire where he enjoyed the mountains, the lake, and the country life. He became an emeritus member of the American Ophthalmological Society in 1975.
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Necrology
Doctor Unsworth was married to Virginia Trainer Unsworth on July 14, 1934 in New York City. He is survived by his wife, five children, and twelve grandchildren. His children are: Mrs. Jacqueline U. Davis, Canton Center, Ct.; Mr. Richard Unsworth, Whitefield, N.H-.; Mr. Thomas Unsworth, Burlington, Vt.; Mrs. Barbara U. Washburn, West Hartford, Ct.; Mr. David Unsworth, West Hartford, Ct. Our sympathies are extended to his family. His devotion to his family, the American Ophthalmological Society, and the Hartford Hospital were outstanding landmarks of a good life. His eminently successful ophthalmic practice did much good for the citizens of Hartford and Connecticut.
