in memoriam

On May 11, 2009, with the passing of Dr. Jesse Rothenberger, chiropractic orthopedics felt a shift in its core.  A pillar of our specialty fell from our midst.  It is hard to define the driving forces that propel individuals to aspire to excellence.  Dr. Rothenberger was one of those defining forces for excellence among chiropractic orthopedists.  Jesse Rothenberger, DC, FACO, FICC, in his life and love of quietly but efficiently caring for people, embodied the greatest attributes in health science and art.  His dedication to truth in science and compassion in ministering to the sick and injured inspired us all to greater heights as physicians and as persons. 

Our cherished colleague was a 1954 graduate of Boyertown Area High School, graduating from West Chester University in 1958 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. Upon graduating college, Jesse heard the call of a grateful nation and joined the Marine Corps, becoming a fighter pilot. He attended flight school in Pensacola, Fla., and was later stationed in Beaufort, S.C., at the Marine Corps air station. Jesse served in the military for a total of 29 years both active duty and in the reserves. He served during the Cuban missile crisis and Vietnam.  His pride of his commitment to his country never waivered. As most of us will remember, after his active duty, Jesse attended The National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, Ill., and graduated in1967 as president of his class.

Any of us attending ACCO events will recall his golden voice and stirring renditions of favorite tunes for both scheduled and impromptu evening entertainment.  Jesse was an active member of The Church of the Good Shepherd, Boyertown, where he sang in the choir and helped organize annual sportsman dinners with his son. In 1973 and 1974, Jesse recorded two albums on the AMP label “Songs of Good News” and “God Is My Co-Pilot” and since then had performed numerous concerts and recorded countless CD's all related to his strong Christian faith.

Jesse was involved in many organizations both locally and nationally. On a local level, he was the past president of the Boyertown Rotary Club and vice president of the General Spaatz Memorial. On a national level, Jesse was the past president of the ACCO and the past president of the PCA (Pennsylvania Chiropractor Association).
Among all this leader’s attributes, was his undying devotion to educational advancement, both for himself, as well as for those coming into the specialty of chiropractic orthopedics.  Jesse worked to set the educational bar higher for the good of the profession, and for the good of patients.  His devotion to this enterprise was best exemplified by his leadership of the development and sustaining activities for the ACCO F. Maynard Lipe Scholarship Award. The purpose of the Lipe Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to the winning candidate enrolled in postgraduate chiropractic orthopedics programs leading to Diplomate status or Masters Degree.

Through establishing the F. Maynard Lipe Scholarship Award, Dr. Rothenberger assured that the American College of Chiropractic Orthopedists would be able to acknowledge and honor the founding father of chiropractic orthopedics.  Dr. Lipe was a physician and an educator whose nationwide efforts produced an impressive surge in the expansion of progressive scientific chiropractic practice.

On May 11 passed the physical being of a chiropractic giant whose spirit infuses chiropractic orthopedics forever.  For him, this remembrance is penned with eternal respect, admiration, and humility for his lifetime work and contribution to the human condition.  The greatest man I ever knew.