Memorial held for liver transplant surgical pioneer Starzl

PITTSBURGH — A memorial service for Dr. Thomas Starzl, who pioneered liver transplant surgery in the 1960s, was held Saturday on what would have been his 91st birthday.

Starzl died last weekend at his home in Pittsburgh.

RELATED: Dr. Thomas Starzl, ‘father of transplantation,' dies in Pittsburgh (March 5, 2017)

He performed the world's first liver transplant in 1963 and the world's first successful liver transplant in 1967. He pioneered kidney transplantation from cadavers and was a leading researcher of anti-rejection drugs.

Since Starzl's first successful liver transplant, thousands of lives have been saved by similar operations.

The memorial service was held at Heinz Chapel Memorial Chapel on the University of Pittsburgh's campus. Starzl was a distinguished service professor of surgery at the university.

At the service, his widow, Joy Starzl, said, "It broke our heart to lose you, but you didn't go alone. For part of us went with you, the day God called you home."

In addition to his wife, Starzl is survived by his son and grandchild.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Cox Media Group