Norfolk —Tonight, and now every night, the evening sky will be a bit brighter. On Wednesday, January 24, while on his 96th trip around the sun, Carl Peter Wisoff passed peacefully from this world to join his beloved wife and soul mate, Patricia Kelsay Wisoff, amid the heavenly constellations. His light burned so bright for so long, it is difficult to fathom a life without him.
Born in Brooklyn in 1922, the third child of Julius and Sophie (Rosenson) Wisoff, Carl, full of insatiable curiosity, focus and passion for learning ,entered University of Wisconsin at 16 years old. He enlisted in the Army Air Force while a student at Harvard Medical School, class of ‘46. Upon graduation, he served as a Captain in the medical service corps and participated in the humanitarian effort of the Berlin Air Lift.
While finishing his residence at Cincinnati General Hospital in Ohio, Carl caught a glimpse of Patricia Kelsay, a nursing student, outside a movie theatre, asked her out and three months later they were married, beginning a devoted life of love and adventure that lasted 65 years.
In the early 1950s, Pat and Carl moved to Norfolk and threw themselves into the civic and cultural opportunities of their new home. They were avid and staunch supporters of the Chrysler Museum, Planned Parenthood, and WHRO, to name just a few. They hosted hundreds of lunches, theme dinners, and generous neighborhood events.
Beginning his medical career as the only radiologist at Norfolk General Hospital, Carl quickly became the chief radiologist of his partnership, the Radiological Associates of Norfolk General Hospital, that over the course of his long career was dedicated to bringing the highest standards of care and providing the newest technologies to the expanding field of radiology. He traveled the world attending conferences and seminars, assiduously pursued postgraduate education in a rapidly changing medical landscape, and mentored generations of new physicians to the field.
Always restless for new challenges, highly self-motivated and disciplined, Carl pursued everything with intensity. Avid travelers, Carl and Pat developed a passion for arts and crafts, which they studied and collected with great fervor from every corner of and culture on earth.
Carl believed anything could be learned from a book. He taught himself photography, grew his own fruits and vegetables, and created whimsical and unique jewelry for family and friends.
In their ‘spare time,’ Carl and Pat lovingly raised four children, (Sherri, Brandon, Jeffrey, and Wendy) and spoiled seven grandchildren (Whitney, Samantha, and John Napolitano, Keano Rich, Sari Wisoff and Jeffrey and Michael Wisoff). An accomplished fencer in his youth, a ferocious racquetball player for most of his adult life, Carl still managed to play a rousing game of tennis into his 93rd year and enjoyed a good gin and tonic at the end of the day. So we raise a glass now to Carl and a life well lived. Thank you for showing us the way. We will miss you dearly.
H. D. Oliver. The memorial was private. Burial took place at Princess Anne Memorial Park. Donations to Vanguard Landing, a planned, self-sustaining home for adults with special needs (vanguardlanding.org) or a charity of donor’s choice. Online condolences may be made at www.hdoliver.com.