Obituary of D. Bonta Hiscoe

On June 10, 2017 the family of Dr. D. BONTA HISCOE, 94 years, (born November 26, 1922) lost a much-loved family member. Bonta resided at Fox Run Retirement Community, Novi, MI and passed away at Hospice House of Mid-Michigan, Sparrow Health System, in Lansing, where he was attended by his grandson, Dr. Todd Bonta Wisser. Bonta's roots lay in Massachusetts. He attended Tufts University and earned his M.D. from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. During WWII, Bonta served in the Navy's V-12 Program as a Lieutenant at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. He first practiced medicine in Coal Mountain, West Virginia where his wife, Helen, kept a diary and wrote of their adventures in her book Appalachian Passage. He and the family moved to East Lansing, Michigan where he lived and practiced General and Thoracic surgery. He served as Chief of Surgery at Sparrow Hospital and practiced throughout the extended community. He was instrumental in laying the foundation for today's large Thoracic & Cardiovascular Institute (TCI). At age 57 he retired from surgery and moved to medical administration, extending the length of his active career for another 30-years. He became the Medical Director of Health Central, an HMO, was employed by the Ingham County Health Department, and was a part-time Medical Examiner for Ingham County. He was an Associate Dean of the College of Human Medicine at MSU and served on the Board of Blue Care Network of Michigan from 2002-2013. Among Bonta's many awards are a Presidential Citation from the Michigan State Medical Society, the Key Award for Meritorious Service from the Michigan Hospital Association, the Outstanding Faculty in Surgery Award from the MSU College of Human Medicine, and was inducted into Sparrow Hospital's Physician Hall of Fame in 2014. Bonta was preceded in death by his wife Helen Hiscoe PhD, a professor at MSU, and his daughter, Nancy Clark (Dick). Bonta is survived by three daughters; Susan Wisser (Kenneth), Elaine Charney (David), and Lenore Hiscoe (Robert Starr); two grandsons, Dr. Todd Wisser (Kathrine) and Chad Wisser (Margaret), and his dear friend, Ann Bickford at Fox Run. Bonta and Helen enjoyed extensive travel around the globe. An avid reader of the Wall Street Journal, Economist, and political journals, he loved political debate, and also the symphony. Bonta was loved by his family and friends, respected by his peers, and will be missed by all who knew him. The family wishes to express its gratitude to Hospice House of Mid-Michigan for their loving care of Bonta. Memorial contributions may be made to them at 1210 W. Saginaw Hwy, Lansing, MI 48915. Receptions to honor Bonta will be held at Fox Run, Novi on June 28, 3:30-5:30 and at the Kellogg Center, East Lansing on June 29, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. where the family will welcome friends and colleagues.