Dr. L. Thomas Koritz, MD, 83, of Rochelle, passed away on Friday, Nov. 5, 2010, at Rockford Memorial Hospital in Rockford, IL. Another member of America's Greatest Generation, he was born on Feb. 21, 1927, in Rochelle, IL, to Lloyd Amos Koritz and Margaret Shear Koritz.

The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred when he was 14 years old and a freshman at Rochelle Township High School. He subsequently finished high school in three years and enlisted in the United States Navy at age 17 in 1944. Following completion of active duty, he enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and obtained a B.S. in 1948. He was then accepted to medical school at the University of Illinois in Chicago, and graduated in 1952.

On June 22, 1952, he married Mary Flagg in Springfield, IL.
He practiced medicine as a Family Physician in Rochelle from 1953 to 1987, when he accepted a position as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine, teaching students at the University of Illinois Rockford College of Medicine. In 1991, he was awarded the Raymond B. Allen Award for excellence in teaching, commonly referred to as the Golden Apple. He served as Chief of Staff of the Rochelle Community Hospital Physicians. He was a member of the Rochelle Jaycees, and in 1953, he was named as one of the 10 Outstanding Young Men of the Nation by the national Jaycees for experiments during medical school which resulted in a new method of artificial respiration.

Dr. Koritz was very active in community affairs, including the elementary school board, Blackhawk Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, 25 years as president of the Ogle County Board of Health, Rotary Club, and the Men's Garden Club. Avocations included hunting, fishing, woodworking, travel and any activities he could do with family and grandkids. Most importantly, he was the best father and grandfather a kid could want.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a son: Major Thomas F. Koritz, MD who was killed in action in Iraq on Jan. 17, 1991.
Survivors include his wife: Mary of Rochelle; sons; Timothy (Julie) Koritz of Roscoe, IL, and Terence (Nancy) Koritz of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; daughter: Julie (Peter) Krull of Spencer, Iowa, and daughter-in-law: Julianne Koritz of Boca Raton, FL.

Grandchildren: Timothy Koritz, Jon Koritz, Scott Koritz Katherine Koritz, Sarah Koritz, Jennifer Koritz, Elizabeth Koritz, Scott Krull, Brett Krull, Andrew Krull, Mary Krull, Paige Koritz, Grace Koritz and Hope Koritz.

Services at First Presbyterian Church in Rochelle with Rev. James Tilly on Monday Nov. 8th, 2010 at 11:30 AM. Visitation at Unger-Horner Funeral Home on Sunday Nov. 7th, 2010 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. Burial at Lawnridge Cemetery.
For memorials please consider the University of Illinois College of Medicine and/or the First United Presbyterian Church of Rochelle, IL.