Richard Wier Katzberg

Dr. Richard Wier Katzberg of Clinton, SC, passed away precipitously of pancreatic carcinoma at the age of 71 on September 2, 2017. Dr. Katzberg was the son of Dr. Arthur J. Katzberg and Mary Frances Wier Katzberg, also of Clinton SC, both of whom predeceased him.

Dr. Katzberg, “Rick”, was born on October 23, 1945, at Moody Army Airfield in Valdosta, Georgia. Rick grew up in an Air Force family and went to various primary schools across the South. Rick attended Duke University, University of South Carolina, and the Medical University of South Carolina for his Bachelor, Master, and Medical degrees, respectively. After receiving his M.D. degree in 1972, he completed his internship and residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY. In 1977, Rick entered the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, TX, as Chief of Genitourinary Radiology and Lymphography. This was followed by a Research Fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Research Laboratory, Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, supported by a grant from the National Institute of Health. He returned to the University of Rochester as a faculty member until 1989. He was appointed Chair of the Department of Radiology at the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon from 1989-1991, then as Chair of the Department of Radiology at the University of California Davis Medical Center (UCDMC) in Sacramento, CA. Dr. Katzberg retired in 2012 as an Emeritus Professor from UCDMC, then continued active academic research as a Research Adjunct Professor at MUSC.

Dr. Katzberg had a strong connection with the Association of University Radiologists as his academic career developed, receiving the Resident’s Memorial Award in 1977 and three Stauffer Awards in the field of contrast medium (CM) research. He was elected President of the AUR in 1995. In addition to expertise in CM research, he also was a pioneer in the foundation of imaging of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). His contributions to academic research include 207 peer-reviewed articles, 5 text books and over 40 textbook chapters, in addition to two State of the Art review articles on completely different topics. Dr. Katzberg’s dedication to research continued into retirement with seminal developments in both CM and TMJ and authorship of articles that have continued his contribution to current medical literature.

In 2012, Dr. Katzberg and his wife, Nancy, moved to Clinton where his mother’s family has extensive roots extending from before the Revolutionary War, through the Civil War, and to the present day. Rick is the third in the line of family graduates from MUSC, beginning with Dr. Thomas Wier in 1826.

An accomplished athlete, Rick enjoyed tennis and excelled on the court, participating in the United States Tennis Association National and Regional age-bracket senior tournaments throughout his adult life. Rick achieved national rankings in every age division from the age of 35 on. Rick was also an avid chess player who loved tournaments and played a great game. Rick and Nancy enjoyed traveling, often in conjunction with professional meetings relating to his international expertise in CM and TMJ.

In addition to his wife, Nancy Jean Parda, Dr. Katzberg is survived by his brother, Steve (wife, Jamie); his three children, Jenna Kempton, Kimberly Ann (wife, Maia) and Richard, Jr.; two step-children, Deeanna and Daniel Noonan, and one step-grandchild, Skylar Clymer.

There is a void in the world today! He will be sorely missed. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hospice of Laurens County. The family would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Hospice House of Clinton’s staff for their skillful, attentive and compassionate care.