George A Nankervis

George A. Nankervis, Ph.D., M.D., age 84, died April 8, 2014.

Preceded in death by sister, Jane Sturdevant of Dayton, ME; he is survived by Janet, his beloved wife of 59 years; two children, Patricia Van Lengen (Charles) of Evanston, IL and Craig Nankervis (Mary Ann) of Dublin, OH; brother-in-law, Franklyn Sturdevant of Dayton, ME; nieces, Ruth Smith and Nancy Sturdevant, and nephew, David Sturdevant; and two grandchildren, Christopher and Elizabeth Nankervis.

Dr. Nankervis was born on April 1, 1930 in Meriden, CT. He graduated from Meriden High School in 1948 and from Princeton University (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) in 1952. He served in the U.S. Navy as a gunnery officer on a destroyer from 1952-1955. Following his naval service, Dr. Nankervis received his Ph.D. (Sigma Xi) in Bacteriology in 1959 and his M.D. (with honors, AOA) in 1962 from the University of Rochester. Dr. Nankervis completed his pediatric internship and residency in 1965 at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Boston, MA and his fellowship in Infectious Diseases in 1967 at the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospitals (CMGH) in Cleveland, OH. Following completion of his fellowship, Dr. Nankervis enjoyed a long and distinguished career in pediatric infectious diseases research, administration, and education.

Dr. Nankervis joined the faculty at CWRU, assigned to CMGH, as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in 1967, rising to the rank of Professor of Pediatrics in 1976. During his time at CMGH, Dr. Nankervis served as the Director of the Viral Diagnostic Laboratory, where he carried out important bench research and published extensively on congenital viral infections in the newborn, especially cytomegalovirus. Dr. Nankervis served as the Interim Director of Pediatrics at CMGH from 1977-1979, as Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Ohio (MCO) in Toledo, OH from 1979-1985, and as the Chairman of Pediatrics at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Akron, OH from 1985 through his retirement in 1995. Dr. Nankervis was a member of many important local, state, and national committees, including the Home Away from Home Board of Trustees (Ronald McDonald House), the National Board of Medical Examiners, the Ohio State Medical Association Committee on Infectious Diseases, the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases (Red Book Committee), and the Board of Trustees, Hattie Larlham Foundation. Dr. Nankervis was a member of many professional societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and served on the editorial board of Infection and Immunity.

Dr. Nankervis was recognized for excellence in pediatric education throughout his career. He received the Faculty Teaching Award at CWRU in 1977, the Golden Apple Award at MCO in 1982, the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Recognition Award for Distinguished Achievements and Outstanding Contribution to the Advancement of Pediatric Care and Education for Patients and Physicians in 1988, and the Dean's Award at Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM) in 1995. He was selected by the NEOUCOM graduating classes of 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, and 1995 to serve as one of their "hooders" during graduation and was selected by the NEOUCOM graduating class of 1996 to administer the Geneva Oath at their graduation.

A memorial service will take place 1:00 p.m. SUNDAY, April 13th at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd. Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. SATURDAY, April 12th. Private inurnment will take place at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron, One Perkins Square, Akron, Ohio 44308. (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)