Hugh B. Lynn, M.D.
Founder of the Lilliputian Surgical Society
August 13, 1914 - November 10, 2015
Hugh B. Lynn, M.D., formerly of Middleburg and The Plains, Virginia, died peacefully in his sleep at his home at Shenandoah Valley Westminster Canterbury in Winchester, Virginia, on November 10, 2015, with his wife, Lillian, at his side. He was 101.
Born in Verona, New Jersey, on August 13, 1914, Dr. Lynn graduated from Blair Academy, Princeton University, (where he played shortstop for the baseball team) and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1946 and attained the rank of major.
After completing surgical residencies at the Boston Children's Hospital and the Philadelphia Children's Hospital, he served as Surgeon-in-Chief at the Louisville Children's Hospital, Head of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Professor of Surgery at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama.
He was a member of the first generation of surgeons who dedicated their careers to pediatric surgery. He pioneered a number of experimental surgeries for children born with severe birth defects and developed techniques specialized to childhood needs, many of which are still in use today.
In 1959 he convened a small group of pediatric surgeons and their spouses from around the country in Louisville to discuss their cases and share their experiences. George Holcomb, Jr. presented the initial history of the Lilliputian Surgical Society at the annual meeting in 1989 and had this to say about Hugh: “When I first arrived at Boston Children’s Hospital forty years ago this month, Hugh was there in the rotation ahead of me. I greatly appreciated his big brother attitude as he explained the dos and don’ts of the hospital routine. Later, however, I discovered he took all the younger residents under his wing and assisted them in every way he could.
Thirty years ago, this same caring attitude undoubtedly prompted Hugh, when he was Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Louisville Children’s Hospital, to invite the pediatric surgeons in the surrounding cities to attend a program he organized in conjunction with a chapter meeting of the American College of Surgeons. In those days, we did not have a journal devoted to our specialty, and no formal programs or a section within the College of Surgeons. Our only forum was the American Academy of Pediatrics where we had participated in the Surgical Section Meetings for several years. In our individual practices we had encountered very sick children with unusual congenital anomalies for which we often had no solution. Gross’s textbook did not supply all the answers to these unusual problems, and our past training did not provide solutions either. Naturally, we were eager to come to Louisville, and to learn all we could and share our experiences.
We enjoyed a morning program at the Children’s Hospital and following lunch, we discussed some of our interesting cases informally as a “bull session.” Our interests immediately centered on our problems rather than our successes because that was what bothered each of us the most. We each confessed our sins, admitted our failures, and concluded we needed each other to help solve these difficult problems.
That evening we enjoyed dinner at Hugh and Lee Lynn’s home. As we discussed the day’s activities, we agreed that it would be a great idea to organize future meetings with each of us serving as host at our own institution and using a similar format. As we talked about a name it was jokingly suggested“…why not Lilliputians?”
Fortunately, Hugh and Lee were with us to guide The Lilliputian Surgical Society for over five decades. Hugh’s initial advice that there must be good science and that the activities of the Society must appeal to the spouses as well as the surgeons, has provided a framework that has allowed the little society to flourish and continue to attract members of proven abilities and strong character.
An accomplished horseman, Dr. Lynn foxhunted for many years with the Orange County Hunt in Fauquier County, Virginia, and served for a time on the Board of Trustees of that organization. Known for his bow ties and fondness for a good martini, he is remembered for his quick wit and grammatical precision, as well as his love of reading and the company of family and friends. He was a caring physician, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He is greatly missed.
