OBITUARY: Dr. John Waller Jr.: Tried to cure urban troubles, by Joe Rossiter, Free Press Staff Writer
Dr. John Waller, Jr., was the ever-vigilant crusader against urban decay and violence. As the former director of the Detroit Health Department, he was concerned that communities no longer belonged to the good folks. The bad guys were winning.
His prescription for recovery called for rebuilding a foundation of support between neighbors, schools, churches and local groups.
"There are very few people in our community that had such a broad and tremendous impact and influence in directing and shaping public health policy and developing community systems of care for the City of Detroit." Said Dr. Herbert C. Smitherman Jr., associate chairman of the Department of Community Medicine in the Wayne State University School of Medicine. "Dr. Waller defined the words principle, humanity, integrity and academic. Excellence.."
Dr. Waller of Detroit died of complications related to diabetes and colon cancer on Jan. 5 at Detroit Receiving Hospital. He was 69.
Born in Essex County, Va., Dr. Waller served in the Air Force in 1955-59. After the service, he attended Temple University on a football scholarship and received his undergraduate degree in microbiology and medical technology in 1963.
He received his master's degree in public health in 1971 and his doctorate of public health in 1973 from the University of Michigan. He had served as director of the Public Health Department in Newark, N.J., before coming to Detroit. In 1978, he was appointed the city's public health director and served in that post until 1989.
Dr. Waller joined the Wayne State faculty in 1984. For more than two decades, he was an associate professor and chair of community medicine in the WSU School of Medicine.
Dr. Waller later became senior vice president of the Urban and Community Health Department at the Detroit Medical Center.
Survivors include his wife, Mikki; two sisters, Royell Simpson and Zelda Richmond, and a brother, Victor.
There will be a viewing today at 10 a.m. followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. at Second Ebenezer Baptist Church, 2760 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit.
Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.
(DETROIT FREE PRESS, Friday, Jan 13, 2006)
Dr. John Waller, Jr., was the ever-vigilant crusader against urban decay and violence. As the former director of the Detroit Health Department, he was concerned that communities no longer belonged to the good folks. The bad guys were winning.
His prescription for recovery called for rebuilding a foundation of support between neighbors, schools, churches and local groups.
"There are very few people in our community that had such a broad and tremendous impact and influence in directing and shaping public health policy and developing community systems of care for the City of Detroit." Said Dr. Herbert C. Smitherman Jr., associate chairman of the Department of Community Medicine in the Wayne State University School of Medicine. "Dr. Waller defined the words principle, humanity, integrity and academic. Excellence.."
Dr. Waller of Detroit died of complications related to diabetes and colon cancer on Jan. 5 at Detroit Receiving Hospital. He was 69.
Born in Essex County, Va., Dr. Waller served in the Air Force in 1955-59. After the service, he attended Temple University on a football scholarship and received his undergraduate degree in microbiology and medical technology in 1963.
He received his master's degree in public health in 1971 and his doctorate of public health in 1973 from the University of Michigan. He had served as director of the Public Health Department in Newark, N.J., before coming to Detroit. In 1978, he was appointed the city's public health director and served in that post until 1989.
Dr. Waller joined the Wayne State faculty in 1984. For more than two decades, he was an associate professor and chair of community medicine in the WSU School of Medicine.
Dr. Waller later became senior vice president of the Urban and Community Health Department at the Detroit Medical Center.
Survivors include his wife, Mikki; two sisters, Royell Simpson and Zelda Richmond, and a brother, Victor.
There will be a viewing today at 10 a.m. followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. at Second Ebenezer Baptist Church, 2760 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit.
Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.
(DETROIT FREE PRESS, Friday, Jan 13, 2006)
OBITUARY: Dr. John Waller Jr.: Tried to cure urban troubles, by Joe Rossiter, Free Press Staff Writer
Dr. John Waller, Jr., was the ever-vigilant crusader against urban decay and violence. As the former director of the Detroit Health Department, he was concerned that communities no longer belonged to the good folks. The bad guys were winning.
His prescription for recovery called for rebuilding a foundation of support between neighbors, schools, churches and local groups.
"There are very few people in our community that had such a broad and tremendous impact and influence in directing and shaping public health policy and developing community systems of care for the City of Detroit." Said Dr. Herbert C. Smitherman Jr., associate chairman of the Department of Community Medicine in the Wayne State University School of Medicine. "Dr. Waller defined the words principle, humanity, integrity and academic. Excellence.."
Dr. Waller of Detroit died of complications related to diabetes and colon cancer on Jan. 5 at Detroit Receiving Hospital. He was 69.
Born in Essex County, Va., Dr. Waller served in the Air Force in 1955-59. After the service, he attended Temple University on a football scholarship and received his undergraduate degree in microbiology and medical technology in 1963.
He received his master's degree in public health in 1971 and his doctorate of public health in 1973 from the University of Michigan. He had served as director of the Public Health Department in Newark, N.J., before coming to Detroit. In 1978, he was appointed the city's public health director and served in that post until 1989.
Dr. Waller joined the Wayne State faculty in 1984. For more than two decades, he was an associate professor and chair of community medicine in the WSU School of Medicine.
Dr. Waller later became senior vice president of the Urban and Community Health Department at the Detroit Medical Center.
Survivors include his wife, Mikki; two sisters, Royell Simpson and Zelda Richmond, and a brother, Victor.
There will be a viewing today at 10 a.m. followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. at Second Ebenezer Baptist Church, 2760 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit.
Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.
(DETROIT FREE PRESS, Friday, Jan 13, 2006)
Dr. John Waller, Jr., was the ever-vigilant crusader against urban decay and violence. As the former director of the Detroit Health Department, he was concerned that communities no longer belonged to the good folks. The bad guys were winning.
His prescription for recovery called for rebuilding a foundation of support between neighbors, schools, churches and local groups.
"There are very few people in our community that had such a broad and tremendous impact and influence in directing and shaping public health policy and developing community systems of care for the City of Detroit." Said Dr. Herbert C. Smitherman Jr., associate chairman of the Department of Community Medicine in the Wayne State University School of Medicine. "Dr. Waller defined the words principle, humanity, integrity and academic. Excellence.."
Dr. Waller of Detroit died of complications related to diabetes and colon cancer on Jan. 5 at Detroit Receiving Hospital. He was 69.
Born in Essex County, Va., Dr. Waller served in the Air Force in 1955-59. After the service, he attended Temple University on a football scholarship and received his undergraduate degree in microbiology and medical technology in 1963.
He received his master's degree in public health in 1971 and his doctorate of public health in 1973 from the University of Michigan. He had served as director of the Public Health Department in Newark, N.J., before coming to Detroit. In 1978, he was appointed the city's public health director and served in that post until 1989.
Dr. Waller joined the Wayne State faculty in 1984. For more than two decades, he was an associate professor and chair of community medicine in the WSU School of Medicine.
Dr. Waller later became senior vice president of the Urban and Community Health Department at the Detroit Medical Center.
Survivors include his wife, Mikki; two sisters, Royell Simpson and Zelda Richmond, and a brother, Victor.
There will be a viewing today at 10 a.m. followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. at Second Ebenezer Baptist Church, 2760 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit.
Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.
(DETROIT FREE PRESS, Friday, Jan 13, 2006)
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