December 28, 2010
Dr. Martin B. Grant of Cornwall, a physician and 40-year resident of the area, died Friday, December 17, 2010, at home. He was 75.
The son of Norma Kitay and Reuben Grant, he was born July 27, 1935 in Brooklyn, and was raised in the Brighton Beach and Bensonhurst neighborhoods of the borough. These neighborhoods would serve as the backdrop to stories he would tell throughout his remarkable life.
He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn in 1953, 28th in a class of 314, and obtained a B.A. from New York University in 1956 with a major in chemistry and minors in biology and psychology. He was a student of Roman, German and English literature and received a degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Bologna in 1962. His internship was done at Vassar Bros. Hospital in Poughkeepsie (1962-63), after a chance meeting in a restaurant in Italy with vacationing Dr. Bert Kanwit, whose responsibility it was to recruit interns for the hospital.
He served a residency in Internal Medicine (1965-66), and residency in Hematology (1968-69), at The Jewish Hospital and Medical Center of Brooklyn (Interfaith Medical Center) and The Brooklyn VA Hospital. Three months before the completion of his Internal Medicine residency, he was drafted into the Army and served as a captain in Korea before an honorable discharge in 1968.
Dr. Grant has been licensed to practice medicine in the state of New York since 1964, and is also licensed in New Jersey. He has been board certified in Internal Medicine since 1977 and has been an attending physician at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital for 40 years. At the time of his death, he was a partner with Dr. Javier Ruiz in the Hudson Valley Health Group at 3141 Route 9W in New Windsor. His first medical practice was purchased in December, 1968, while still a resident, from Dr. Emil Klima, for $1500, and his first patients were seen in a Brooklyn neighborhood that he loved and to which he had deep connections.
He will be remembered as a connoisseur of all things fine, especially antiques, art, classical music, good wine and good food. In his eighth decade of life, he liked seeing his patients, some of them three generations of a family, because he said "I have been everywhere, seen everything, done everything, and this is what makes me happy." He will be known always for a very colorful personality, a large ego, and his ability to find humor no matter the situation.
Dr. Grant is survived by his wife of 47 years, Joanne Smith Grant; his son, Martin A. Grant of Cape Coral, FL; his daughter, Jennifer of New Windsor; his brother, Fred Grant (Mary Ann) of Cambridge, MA, and a sister, Rochelle Grant of Washingtonville; his uncle, Ralph Grant of Staten Island; brothers-in-law: Gary Smith (Kathy) of Cape Coral, FL, Martin Smith (Marianne) of New Windsor, Owen Smith (Charlene) of Canastota, Douglas Smith (Casey) of Middletown; as well as many well-loved Grant cousins and Grant and Smith nieces and nephews. His surviving friends and colleagues are bountiful.
Dr. Grant was a member of the American Medical Association, the Orange County Medical Society, and a lifetime member of Orange AHRC. He is past president of the medical staff at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, and served on the board of Highland National Bank.
The family received friends and colleagues on Monday, December 20, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, at Congregation Agudas Israel, 290 North St., Newburgh. Interment was private and at the convenience of the family followed by a celebration of Martin's life at Schlesinger's, 293 Temple Hill Rd. in New Windsor.
Messages of condolences may be sent to Dr. Grant's family and colleagues at PO Box 536, Cornwall, NY 12518.
Special thanks to everyone at the Cornwall Hospital Emergency Room; the St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital ICU; all of the team of doctors who attended Dr. Grant, or who just stopped by with good wishes, and to the Orange-Sullivan Hospice dedicated group of nurses and advisors.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Orange AHRC, 249 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550, in honor or Dr. Grant's daughter, Jennifer, "his little scholar" who is served by this agency. The mission of Orange AHRC is to create an environment that supports and advocates for people of all ages with unique abilities and challenges so they can live as respected, valued members of the community.
Arrangements are under the guidance of Doulin Newburgh Funeral Home, 318 N. Montgomery St., Newburgh; 845-562-0068.
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