December 2006

In Memoriam...

Gary S. Horwin, DC ‑‑ 1951‑2006

A special tribute by the Federation of Straight Chiropractors and Organizations

It is with saddened hearts that we announce the passing of Dr. Gary S. Horwin, DC. He died unexpectedly Oct. 31, 2006 in Cancun Mexico. Dr. Gary Horwin, 55, was a 1978 graduate of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic and a 1973 graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University where he received a bachelor's degree in Accounting. He was the founder and owner of Horwin Family Chiropractic Center in Lansdale, PA, where he served his patients for 28 years.

While Dr. Horwin very much enjoyed practice, he was not one to sit on the sidelines. In addition to his successful practice, he served the profession vigorously and enthusiastically. He was a man of purpose. That purpose, professionally, was to protect and promote straight chiropractic, to ensure the future of chiropractic as a separate and distinct profession and to secure and insure public access to vertebral subluxation correction.

He was a member of the Federation of Straight Chiropractors and Organizations (FSCO) since his graduation and served as its President from 2001 to 2005. He was also a career‑long member of the Chiropractic Fellowship of Pennsylvania (CFoP) and served as its President from 1999 until his death.

With the support of his loving wife, Beth ‑‑ and while concurrently serving as President of both his state and national organizations ‑‑ he seized the opportunity to further promote straight chiropractic by becoming involved with the Chiropractic Coalition, which was formed in November 2002 to bring together numerous and various groups, organizations and institutions for the specific purpose of defending chiropractic's independence.

He also was active in COCSA (Congress of Chiropractic State Associations), although he regretted not being able to serve or run for a leadership position in that organization.

He had numerous other positions over the years. He served on the FSCO Board of Directors from 1983 to 1987, as FSCO Treasurer from 1997 to 2001 and as CFoP Treasurer from 1981 to 1989. He was a part‑time faculty member at the Pennsylvania College of Straight Chiropractic where he helped to shape many young chiropractic minds from 1982 until the school was closed in 1995. He was a member of Sherman College's Board of Regents since 1981 and the Alumni Association since 1986. He was also a member of the World Chiropractic Alliance since 1992.

He received numerous awards during his career including Sherman College's Distinguished Service Award in 1986 and 2001 and the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1988. In 2005, Dr. Gary Horwin was the recipient of the Chiropractor of the Year Award presented by Sherman College. This award is given to a worthy chiropractor who has, through his or her service, given extraordinary time and effort to advance Sherman College and the straight chiropractic profession. Recently, he was also awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy (Hon.) from New Beginnings, a movement dedicated to preserving principled chiropractic.

Long‑time friend and colleague, Dr. Dick Plummer, DC, FSCO Chairman, shared his thoughts about Dr. Gary Horwin at the funeral. "I never heard a bad word said about Gary. Everyone liked him. He wasn't just a good guy; he was a great guy. Whenever you saw Gary you were greeted with that big, generous and genuine smile of his. When there was work to be done Gary was always the first to volunteer and never sought the limelight or recognition. In the 30 plus years that we knew each other we had opportunities to work together, play together, vacation together and Gary was always making others laugh and smile without even trying. It was one of his gifts to the rest of us. I will always treasure his love and friendship."

Dr. Judy Campanale, DC, current FSCO President and close friend had this to say, "I will forever remember Gary as the guy who was willing to go the extra mile with a smile on his face. Last year prior to his double hip replacement, we were together at the Chiropractic Coalition's Annual Legislative Day. Walking was quite a struggle for him. I remember him breaking a sweat just walking from the elevator across the hotel lobby. That kind of pain would have stopped many of us, but not Gary. He knew the importance of our presence in Washington, DC and nothing was going to stop him from accomplishing his mission. I was touched to read a message from him at his funeral that included the following verse, 'Do what you can, for whom you can, with what you have, from where you are.' That pretty much summed up his life. He will be sorely missed."

Terry A. Rondberg, DC, President of the World Chiropractic Alliance and long‑time friend and colleague echoed their sentiments. "There are only a handful of people in this profession as truly devoted to chiropractic as Gary," he said. "I don't believe he ever compromised on principles, and yet he was able to establish productive relationships with so many leaders in this profession. He was the type of doctor you wanted to work with but, more important perhaps, he was the kind of person you wanted as a friend. The loss for chiropractic is staggering."

Christopher Kent, DC, JD, who worked with Dr. Horwin through the Coalition, added,

"Gary Horwin was a committed chiropractor. He led by example, not bluster, and his keen resolve served as an inspiration for all of us."

Dr. Gary Horwin died, holding his wife's hand on the very beach on which they were married years ago. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his mother, Marge, and step father, William Bell; his brother, Brad and his wife, Cathy, and their son, Brandon; his sister, Kim Eid and her husband, Bill, and their daughters, Brittany and Alexandra; his mother‑in‑law, Helen T. Bieryla; a brother‑in‑law, Hank; two sisters‑in‑law, Tina and Fran; and his nieces, Kendra, Becky, Shania and Gracie. He was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence Horwin.

Memorial donations may be made to New Beginnings Inner Circle, 410 Pine St. Red Bank, NJ 07701.