Obituary of Adolf G. Senft, MD

Dr. Adolf Georg Felix Senft, an interventional cardiologist who performed innovative work in the cardiac catheterization laboratory and the first mitral valvuloplasty in New Jersey, died peacefully on Friday due to complications from radiation-induced meningiomas. He was 75 years old and a long-time resident of Mendham, NJ. Dr. Senft was born in Lobsing, Germany, on February 19, 1939. He was the son of Adolf Jakob and Maria Theresia Senft and the third of four children. His brilliant mind and insatiable love of learning showed themselves at an early age when he began reading books in the village library, eventually working his way through the entire archives. He credited his love of music and the arts and his thirst for knowledge to his father, a teacher and church organist, and his two uncles, who were physicians. He studied at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich where he was elected valedictorian of his class and earned his medical degree in 1964. In 1965, he traveled to the United States with an exchange program for young physicians. While working here, he met his loving wife of 48 years, Janet Luciano Senft, who was the head nurse on intensive care at Saint Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, where he launched his 46-year career in interventional cardiology. Dr. Senft was known for his dedication and kindness to his patients, his surgical skill and his meticulous procedure in the cardiac catheterization lab. His research is published in numerous books and professional journals. Teaching young physicians was one of his passions and he was an inspiring teacher, insisting on the highest level of performance from the hundreds of residents and fellows who trained under him. Dr. Senft was a doctor’s doctor and served as a professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Seton Hall University School of Graduate Medical Education and he was chairman of the credentials committee and a board member of the Heart Research Institute at Saint Michael’s Medical Center. He was board certified in internal medicine and cardiology, a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a career-long member of the American Heart Association, American Medical Association, Essex County Medical Society and Medical Society of New Jersey. He loved his work and engaging in an intellectual back and forth with his friends and colleagues, discussing topics from science, technology and medicine to literature and Greek mythology. Recently, a colleague recalled a conversation in which Dr. Senft mentioned he was reading Homer’s The Odyssey. When the colleague said he had read the epic tale in high school, Dr. Senft casually noted that he had read it in German and English, but was currently reading it in the original Greek. Despite his demanding schedule and constant availability to his patients and colleagues, Dr. Senft achieved balance in his life. He was a skilled surf fisherman, avid gardener, voracious reader and a prolific traveler who spoke five languages. A Saturday might entail rising early to make rounds at the hospital, a drive to his summer home on the beach in Mantoloking to fish for striped bass, a swim with his children and grandchildren, working in his garden, notations in his weekend journal, a sunset dinner with his wife and a few chapters from any number of books that he was reading at the time. His biggest joy in life was derived from his family. In his beautiful and elegant bride, Janet, he found the love of his life, his greatest supporter and a partner in all adventures. They enjoyed socializing with a close-knit circle of friends and many international trips. Together, they raised three children, Dr. Carl Joseph Senft (Tiffany Senft) of Fair Haven, NJ, Janet Senft Pearce (John Pearce) of New Vernon, NJ, and Christine Senft Callahan (Fletch Callahan) of New York City, who were a tremendous source of pride, laughter and countless wonderful times. Dr. Senft took pleasure in welcoming his children’s friends at the family’s dining room table, which was the scene of innumerable hours-long dinners during which he led discussions about a wide variety of topics. More than anything, he adored his six grandchildren, Janet, Heidi, Greta, George, Fletcher and Jack, who were his youngest students and represented that which was most important to him: a legacy of family. He was the cherished “little brother” to his sisters in Germany, Rita Schnurrer (Dr. Ludwig Schnurrer) and Henriette Werning (Dr. Wolfgang Werning) and beloved uncle to his nieces and nephews, who spoke and visited often despite the ocean between them. He is predeceased by his dearly loved parents and sister Renate Senft. He had deep affection for his large extended family of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and his nieces and nephews in the United States. Visitation will be held at Bailey Funeral Home, Mendham, NJ, on Monday, December 15, from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM. Funeral Mass, December 16, at 10:00 AM, St. Mary’s Abbey-Delbarton School, 230 Mendham Road, Morristown, NJ.