Cowboys and Indians was a popular game among the youngsters in Dr. Keith A. Hawthorne’s Maplewood neighborhood, but, according to his obituary, which was released over the weekend, “He decided to utilize the toy medical kit that his mother had given him. That item served as the starting point for a lengthy profession as a doctor committed to serving others.”
After a brief illness, the beloved cardiologist, who had grown up in Maplewood and had worked in West Orange and Livingston, passed away on July 16 at the age of 68.
Last week, New Jersey Cardiology Associates in West Orange published the following notice to patients:
“We regret to inform you of the demise of Keith A. Hawthorne, MD, our beloved friend and partner, on behalf of the medical community. Words are inadequate to convey the hole and anguish this loss has left behind. In the medical field, where he treated tens of thousands of patients, Hawthorne was a stalwart. His zest for life and commitment to patient care were unrivaled.”
According to his obituary, Hawthorne frequently volunteered to aid underprivileged people in El Salvador and Haiti.
He participated on the neighborhood ambulance team while a high school student in Maplewood, New Jersey, and later graduated to become an EMT, according to the obituary. After graduating from medical school in 1984, he started what would become an illustrious career at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey, where he originally worked as an EKG technician before finishing his internship, residency, and fellowship in interventional cardiology.
At a later time, there will be a memorial service. The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center by calling the Development Department at 973-322-4330 in lieu of flowers.
