Dr. John Francis “Jack” Brunner: Pioneering Toledo endocrinologist was a caring mentor

Dr. John Francis “Jack” Brunner, a pioneering Toledo endocrinologist and clinical professor, died July 8 in his Toledo home. He was 97.

Dr. Brunner died after a brief illness, his son Rick Brunner said. He had several health conditions common for his age, Mr. Brunner said.

As one of the first board-certified endocrinologists in Toledo, Dr. Brunner “took care of a lot of people with rare and complex health problems,” said his other son Dr. Jack Brunner, who followed in his father’s steps to become an endocrinologist.

Dr. S. Amjad Hussain, a retired Toledo surgeon,  said the elder Dr. Brunner was also “a very kind and caring physician and teacher,” noting that he was a former intern of Dr. Brunner at what is now Mercy Health St. Charles Hospital.

The older Dr. Brunner retired in 2001 as the director and physician of what is now ProMedica Endocrine and Diabetes Care Center on Central Avenue, where he had worked since helping establish it in 1980.

Dr. Brunner also worked at what is now Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center as the director of the department of endocrinology from 1967 to 2001 and as the director of medical education from 1966 to 1992, mentoring medical students and residents.

Additionally, he was in private practice in endocrinology, seeing patients from 1958 until retirement in 2001.

Dr. Brunner was also on the clinical faculty of the former Medical College of Ohio from its inception in 1964 until 2001, when he retired.

In 1972 and 1974, he won the Golden Apple Award, selected by the MCO graduating class as an outstanding teacher of the year. He became a clinical professor of medicine at MCO in 1981.

A couple of years into retirement, Dr. Brunner established an academic scholarship fund at Central Catholic High School.

“He was an inspiration to me growing up,” the younger Dr. Brunner said. “... He loved endocrinology, and he loved teaching his students and residents.

“... [And] he always used sound scientific data and medical principles to treat his patients. He was also extremely through. [For example,] he kept his records from the time he started his practice in the 1960s.”

Mr. Brunner, added that his father was compassionate, kind, and “a very good listener to his patients.”

“[And] he was always optimistic,” Mr. Brunner said. “He had deep faith in the Lord, and he believed things would work out.”

Dr. Brunner was also a kind and caring mentor, Dr. Hussain said.

“I had just come from Pakistan in 1963, and Dr. Brunner helped me adjust not only in the field of medicine but also culturally,” Dr. Hussain said, noting that he had kept in touch with Dr. Brunner ever since.

Born April 26, 1927, in Toledo to Monique and Frank Brunner, he was drafted into the Army In October, 1945. At the time, he was a student at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind., after attending Central Catholic High School until his senior year.

Upon his return to Toledo, he received a high school diploma from Central Catholic High School and enrolled at the University of Toledo, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in science in 1949.

He then attended St. Louis University Medical School for four years, graduating in 1953 with a medical doctor degree. He then did his internal medicine residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

Also in 1953, he married the former Mary Ellen Cornell, a nurse. They raised three children together. She survives.

After completing his residency, Dr. Brunner returned to Toledo to established a private practice in internal medicine.

In his free time, he liked to be with his family.

Dr. Brunner also enjoyed playing bridge and traveling with his wife, especially to Europe and primarily in retirement.

He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sylvania and previously of Gesu Catholic Church in West Toledo.

Dr. Brunner was preceded in death by three siblings.

Along with his wife of 70 years, Mary Ellen, surviving are his sons, Dr. Jack Brunner and Rick Brunner; daughter Sue Spera; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Walker Funeral Home, Sylvania Township.

A funeral Mass will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 5373 Main St., Sylvania.

The family suggests tributes to the John F. Brunner Scholarship Fund at Central Catholic High School.