Clifford Clinton Raisbeck Jr, MD’53, GME’61, orthopaedic surgeon, died on March 29 from complications of pneumonia. He was 84. His wife and children were by his side.
A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dr. Raisbeck received both his bachelor of science degree in chemistry and his medical degree from Northwestern University. He completed an internship at Charity Hospital of Louisiana, located in New Orleans. Following his internship, he spent three years of active duty as a Navy flight surgeon. He then completed his orthopaedic residency at Northwestern in 1961 and continued his residency training at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City, and at Shriner’s Hospital in Winnipeg, Canada.
Upon completion of his training, Dr. Raisbeck moved his family to San Francisco and soon after, Sausalito, California. He founded the Orthopaedic Group of San Francisco, a private practice in orthopaedic surgery. He helped introduce disc surgery to the Bay Area. Dr. Raisbeck became chairman of orthopaedic surgery at Seton Medical Center and French Hospital Medical Center, and was also involved with orthopaedic education at University of California San Francisco and the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Livermore, California, throughout the Vietnam War. After consulting for 34 years on complicated orthopaedic cases with the U.S. Navy Reserve, he retired as a captain in 1987.
“Dr. Raisbeck will be remembered with great affection as a talented physician and surgeon, loyal alum, and a generous benefactor supporting the research and education missions of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Northwestern University,” said Terrance Peabody, MD, chair of orthopaedic surgery.
Dr. Raisbeck and his wife Carole have been avid supporters of Feinberg medical students through scholarship giving. He served on the medical school’s Board of Alumni Councilors, the Alumni Board, and as president of the Nathan Smith Davis Recognition Program. He also was a class representative for the Class of 1953. Dr. Raisbeck endowed the Clifford C. Raisbeck, MD, Professorship in Orthopaedic Surgery in 1995.
“Dr. Raisbeck was the consummate Northwestern alumnus,” said Ginny Darakjian, assistant dean for alumni relations. “He loved his school, his classmates, and his fellow alumni with whom he served in the Medical Alumni Association and Nathan Smith Davis Recognition Program. For Cliff, reunions were a celebration of that love and commitment, so he never missed one. He’ll be especially missed this year, which is the 60th year reunion for his class of 1953, and by all of us for years to come.”
In lieu of flowers, the Raisbeck family requests that donations be made to support scholarships at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Checks should be made payable to Northwestern University and can be sent directly to June Ulrey, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Development & Alumni Relations, 420 E. Superior Street, Rubloff-9, Chicago, IL 60611. Please click here to make a credit card gift online.