Victor Greco Obituary (2022) – Wilkes Barre, PA

One of Pennsylvania’s most respected physician leaders and medical pioneers, Victor F. Greco, M.D. passed away Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022.

Devoted husband and father, dedicated surgeon, leader, orator, visionary, developer, author, teacher and businessman sums up this Renaissance man.

General and Thoracic Surgeon Victor F. Greco, M.D. was born in Hazleton in 1927, remembered by many for the jaunty driving cap, entertaining license plates, and the ever-present flower in his lapel, will be sorely missed not only by his family but by thousands of physicians and patients for whom he cared and advocated throughout his lifetime.

Known to many simply as “Doc”, Dr. Greco’s significant contributions to modern surgery, health care policy at both the state and national levels, medical education, and countless causes in the community in which he lived and worked were dwarfed by his love for his family.

While Dr. Greco was honored with many titles throughout his professional career from Deputy Secretary of Health to the President of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, those who knew Dr. Greco best were always aware that the titles which meant the most to him were “husband” and “father.”

Dr. Greco is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary Jean Yackshaw Greco R.N.; six highly successful children, Dr. Victor F. Greco Jr., Drums; Mary Jean Greco, Cocoa Beach, Fla.; Thomas J. Greco, Wilkes-Barre; Dr. Joan Greco, Waiema, Hawaii; Dr. Richard J. Greco, Savannah, Georgia; and Robert T. Greco, Harveys Lake, as well as 11 grandchildren, all of whom have been longtime beneficiaries of his wisdom, compassion, generosity and love.

“No matter how busy he was, we always knew that Dad would have time for us,” says eldest daughter Mary Jean Greco. “Whether our problems were big or small, he always showed support and gave the best advice. We will miss all that.”

Although Dr. Greco retired from 30 years of groundbreaking medical practice in the Greater Hazleton area in 1986, he continued to support quality health care in Pennsylvania as a key health care policymaker and watchdog. As Deputy Secretary of Health, Dr. Greco impacted how doctors and hospitals provided care throughout the Commonwealth and as Chairman of the State Board of Medicine he was responsible for making sure that medical professionals in Pennsylvania met the highest standard of quality care and ethics.

As president of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, an organization he supported for more than 50 years, many as a member of the board of trustees, Dr. Greco spearheaded a continuing physician effort to deal with the Commonwealth’s myriad of medical liability concerns and fought vigorously for patient’s rights and the doctor-patient relationship. Later, he continued his advocacy of the physician’s and patients as Chairman of the Pennsylvania delegation to the American Medical Association and served as a leader of the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s medical liability insurance carrier PMSLIC and on the board of the society’s political action committee, PAMPAC.

Dr. Greco’s contributions to quality health care extended far beyond the Commonwealth’s borders as he brought his expertise and experience to national groups,…