Index
Scholarships
The Dr. Joe and Ann Gadbaw Family Scholarship
The Dr. Joe and Ann Gadbaw Family Scholarship was established in 1998 by Dr. Joseph J. Gadbaw, Class of 1939. It is awarded to students demonstrating financial need, with preference given to those following a pre-medical course of study.
Dr. Joseph Gadbaw, a highly regarded physician who specialized in and pioneered modern geriatric medicine, was born in Utica, New York, to Joseph and Wanda Sakowski. He was later adopted by Marion Gadbaw. Joe graduated from Utica Free Academy in 1934 and enrolled at Hamilton, commuting daily from Utica to the College for his studies in pre-medicine. On the Hill, he was a member of the golf team and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He graduated from Hamilton in 1939 and earned an M.D. from Syracuse University in 1943.
Joe was completing his medical residency in Detroit when summoned for active duty in occupied Germany. He served as a Captain in the medical corps from 1946 to 1948. After returning to Michigan to complete his residency, he entered private practice and was eventually appointed medical director of Long Term Care at Wayne County General Hospital. In 1976, Joe joined the staff of Henry Ford Hospital and concurrently served as director at nine nursing homes. During his years in private practice and public care, Joe was concerned about the dearth of doctors in geriatric medicine. In addition to these responsibilities, he made house calls to senior citizens and visited retirement communities, often accompanied by his wife, Ann, who volunteered to assist him and his patients.
For his work and dedication, Joe received the Laureate award from the Michigan Chapter of the American College of Physicians, which honored him as an “innovator and persevering friend of our elderly, a voice crying in the wilderness of societal and medical neglect.” He and Ann were married for 64 years and had eight children, including Joseph Jr., Class of 1968. Their several grandchildren include Joseph Gadbaw III, Class of 2003, and Sarah V. Gadbaw, Class of 2000. He passed away at the age of 93 in 2010.
August 2014
Please note: The named scholarships profiled on these pages are awarded as part of the College’s need-based financial aid packages. These funds help ensure the Hamilton Promise of keeping education affordable through meeting a student’s full demonstrated financial need.
Materials published here were diligently researched and written by students who strived for historical accuracy.
