Maurice Walter John Abraham "Abe"

GREENWOOD - Maurice Walter John Abraham "Abe", died peacefully on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008, with son John holding his hand. The family is especially grateful (as was Abe) for the care of Erich Cramer, Russ Motley, and the staff of The Country Rest Home in Greenwood. Mr. Abraham was born on Sept. 28, 1912 at 5 St. Clement Road in St. Helier, Jersey, one of Britain's Channel Islands, the son of Armand Walter Alfred Abraham and Faith Roland. He was educated at St. Olive's and St. Saviour's Grammar School and the University of London. A biochemist at the Maudsley Hospital in London, he moved to Venezuela in 1937, where he managed three various hospitals for Royal Dutch Shell. In 1954 he became Executive Director of Kent General Hospital in Dover. Among his accomplishments at Kent General were initiating racial integration, guiding tremendous growth, and recruiting excellent staff. Although an active song and dance man in the Junior Board Follies in the fifties and sixties, he decided to remain in the field of hospital administration. He became an American Citizen in 1960. Before retiring in 1977, he participated in many health organizations and was a Life Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and a past member of the Council of Regents of that body. He was also a past president of the Association of Delaware Hospitals, a past president of the Maryland-District of Columbia-Delaware Hospital Association, and a past member of the education committee of the American Hospital Association, the Board of the Blood Bank of Delaware, the board of the Delaware Tuberculosis and Health Society, the Board of the Delaware Regional Medical Program, the Board of the Delaware Health Services Authority, and a member of the State Council on Physical Health, Department of Health and Social Services. He was past president of the Dover Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow of that organization. Following his retirement "Abe" indulged in world-wide travel, photography, and mediocre bridge, with his wife, F. Joan Abraham (an excellent bridge player), who predeceased him in 1999, after 58 years of marriage. Abe was a soft-spoken man who pretty well said what he meant and meant what he said (with exception sometimes when exercising his typically British sense of humor and wit). He is survived by his two sons, Kenneth Abraham, of Orlando Fla., and John Abraham, of Prescott, Ariz.; and three grandchildren, Baxter, Katharine, and Paul; his sister-in-law, Joyce; and his nephew, Douglas, live in London. A Memorial Service will be 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5, 2008 at Christ Episcopal Church, located at South State and Water Streets, Dover, DE, 19901. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to Kent General Hospital's charitable arm: Bayhealth Medical Center Foundation, 640 South State St., Dover, DE 19901. 302-744-7015. Arrangements by Torbert Funeral Chapels. Letters of condolence may be sent, and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com.