Dr. Michael Vermess

Dr. Michael Vermess, 90, of Tallahassee, FL, passed away on December 17, 2023. He was born on October 2, 1933, in Budapest, Hungary to Paul and Margaret Vermess. Forced to leave his family home upon the Nazi invasion of Hungary in March 1944, Michael displayed immense courage and resilience in times of extreme hardship during his childhood. One day in late 1944, while venturing out to search for food for his family, he was captured and detained with many other Jewish children. He managed to escape in the darkness, but never forgot about the ones who weren’t as fortunate and lived his life to honor their memory. Michael graduated from the Jewish High School for Boys in Budapest in 1952 and began his medical education in Hungary, but fled to Vienna, Austria during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. After obtaining his M.D. from the University of Vienna, he immigrated to the United States in 1959, completing his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at New York University. Michael proudly served as a Commander at the US Naval Hospital in St. Albans, New York for two years. In 1972, Michael joined the Radiology Department at the National Institutes of Health, where he authored a long list of publications and received numerous awards for research, clinical service, and education. He relocated to Tampa, FL in 1985 to become Chief of Radiology at the James A. Haley VA Hospital, retiring in 2000 after a fulfilling career in academic Radiology. After retirement, he was named Professor Emeritus at the University of South Florida and spent several years as Clinical Professor of Radiology at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Michael was married to the love of his life, Camille (Boyce), for 47 years. Together, they raised two sons, Daniel and David. Throughout his life, Michael found solace and strength in Judaism. He was an active member of several synagogues along his journey, including 20 years at Beth Sholom in Potomac, MD. He was a lifelong fan of classical music, a lover of European history and literature, and an avid gardener. He maintained a sharp sense of humor and a thirst for knowledge throughout his years. Late in his life, nothing made his eyes light up with excitement more than the sight of his precious grandchildren. Michael is survived by his sister Eva and her family in Israel, wife Camille, son Daniel, son and daughter-in-law David and Amber, and their two sons, Oliver and Ari. A service to honor Michael's life will be held at 2:00PM on Thursday, December 21st at the Tallahassee National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Florida Holocaust Museum in his memory. May his memory be a blessing. Kelly Barber of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the Vermess family with their arrangements.

Tributes

Dr. Michael Vermess

October 2, 1933 - December 17, 2023