photo, Associated Press
John W. Kluge in 2007
John W. Kluge, former foundation president and chair of the board of directors, passed away on Tuesday, September 7 at his family home in Charlottesville , VA at the age of 95. Mr. Kluge was champion for cerebral palsy and related brain disorders research. CPIRF President James C. Stearns noted “John Kluge served CPIRF for many years as a board member, including as its President. He gave tirelessly of his time and was generous in his financial contributions. His memory will live on through the many programs he supported which benefitted the lives of children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.” CPIRF wishes to express our sincerest condolences and sympathies to the Kluge family and many friends.
Most treatments for cerebral palsy (CP) are initially directed toward children. What is not clearly established is the long- term effects of such treatments. Many appear helpful in the short term but prove to be disadvantageous in the long run. Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is a permanent, irreversible neurosurgical procedure for reducing spasticity in cerebral palsy. Parents contemplating SDR for their child would like assurance that that there will not be harmful complications from it as the child ages into adolescence and adulthood. We now have new evidence...
I am from Europe and John W. Kluge is even well known here in Europe, especially in Germany, the country of his origins. For the Germans, he was still ‘one of theirs’ and they are thinking with pride about his memory.
Joannah