Alan Merchant, MD, a visionary in the orthopedic field and a friend to all who were fortunate enough to know him, passed away on December 3rd, 2023. As we approach the one-year anniversary of his death, the PFF team reached out to Joan Merchant for some thoughts and reflections on the legacy of her late husband. Here is her beautiful reply:
“My father was with DuPont and his first job was in New Jersey where I was born. His job moved us to Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. Dad refused his next promotion so my brother and I could remain in our high school. Thank goodness! Al and I would meet! With encouragement from my math teacher, I got into Stanford where I met Al in our second year across the botany lab table. He told me that his fraternity was having a party and he didn’t have anyone to go with. Guess who volunteered to help him out? We were married 3 days after graduation in 1952.
“Next came medical school for Al and for me a job as a clinical lab tech in San Francisco. Our first child, Tom, was born in Al’s last year of medical school; and then Al’s training and military service took us around the country. Our daughter, Janet, was born in NYC, later to be joined by our son Bob in Alabama. We then completed orthopedic residency in Iowa City, and finally returned to California in 1962 where Al began his practice. I enjoyed playing tennis and skiing with Al and our children and developing everlasting friendships. I especially enjoyed the game of bridge, which continues today.
“Inspired by a beautifully calligraphed wedding invitation, I decided to learn the art and calligraph our children’s wedding invitations. I took many classes, including a yearlong class in San Francisco, partially taught by Queen Elizabeth’s scribes. In addition to making our children’s wedding invitations, I completed many projects and commissions, and taught calligraphy for several years. This became a nice compliment to Al’s work as I labeled and lettered many of his lecture slides. Al also ‘commissioned’ perhaps my most reproduced work, the Hippocratic quote: ‘As to diseases; make a habit of two things; to help, or at least not to harm.’ He ended a number of his lectures with it, and it hangs in a number of physician’s offices today.
“I enjoyed attending many meetings with Al, and when the ‘Patellofemoral Study Group’ was started, that was the best. Al was a founding member, and I soon felt part of the group, designing the logo with Al and becoming the first treasurer. I have many fond memories of our meetings. An early meeting was at the Connecticut home of John and Lynn Fulkerson, where we carved pumpkins and toured the Norman Rockwell Museum. In 1999 Al and Scott Dye sponsored a meeting at the Meadowood Resort in Napa. We held a wine tutor event, dined at the Hess Winery in a room housing their fine art collection, and had a croquet tournament – which Al and Lynn won! Our next meeting, hosted by Otto Muench, was held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, during Octoberfest. And how can I forget the April 2010 London meeting?! An Icelandic volcano erupted causing ashes to close airports after our meeting. During those anxious stranded days we kept in touch via ‘Stranded IPSG Update Members’ emails looking for ways to get home. Flights out of Paris, Madrid to Brazil were investigated. Even the Queen Mary was suggested. We all got home within three days. Every meeting was special. My memory takes me to many good times that were had in places like Benodet, France; Rome; Chicago and Banff.
“I’m grateful for the wonderful memories of the many walks and gatherings with the spouses and getting to know so many of you from all over the world. From the beginning of the ISPG, the biggest treasure for me was being side by side with Al.”