Dr. George Feil, 85, Led Medical Staff of Hospital

Vineyard physician, Dr. George Feil, died peacefully on Wednesday at the age of 85 at Martha's Vineyard Hospital, the same place where he had spent the last chapter in his life as a doctor.

He was the son of the late Dr. Harold and Nellie Elgutter Feil, and the father of Leslie Feil of Barrington, R.I., Betsy VanLandingham of West Tisbury, Ellen Hunter of La Grange, Ill., Amy Phillips of Tampa, Fla. and George Harold Feil of Oakland, Calif.

He is also survived by a brother Edward Feil and a sister Dr. Mary Hellerstein, both of Cleveland, Ohio, nine grandchildren and 12 nieces and nephews. He is the former husband of Maren Mansberger of Tampa, Fla.

Dr. Feil was featured in a book titled A Family of Doctors, written by his nephew Dr. David Hellerstein, which described him as the fourth of five generations of physicians dating back to the 19th century in Czechoslovakia. Two of his daughters continued the family tradition of service in the health care field.

Born in London, England, where his father was in training as a cardiologist, Dr. Feil then grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended University School, Yale University and Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where he later served on the clinical faculty of the medical school.

His college studies were interrupted in 1942 by service in the U.S. Army during World War II. As a captain in the 76th Artillery unit, he was in charge of using chemicals and smoke to camouflage the troops in the French countryside. When he completed his tour of duty, he was able to return to his studies in medicine.

Dr. Feil had a practice in internal medicine, sharing an office with his father for many years in Cleveland, Ohio. He moved to Martha's Vineyard in 1972 where he opened a general practice in Vineyard Haven. He served as chief of medical staff at Martha's Vineyard Hospital and was a member of the hospital finance committee. He was an active member of the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury where he served as a deacon. He loved tennis, sailing and was an avid fisherman.

Dr. Feil was the last of three doctors to live and work in what is now the Doctor's House Bed and Breakfast in Tisbury. He is remembered as one of the last physicians on the Island to make house calls, sometimes visiting his patients on walks around the neighborhood in Vineyard Haven.

His children recall coming down to breakfast to find a bucket of quahaugs or a striped bass on the kitchen table, payment for his services from grateful patients. He retired from medical practice and moved to Florida in 1988.

His family and friends were happy to have honored his 80th birthday on St. Patrick's Day with a party featuring Irish music and merriment at Assisted Living Facility in Edgartown where he resided and received loving care since his return to the Island in 1996.

A memorial service will be held this Sunday at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Longhill Assisted Living Facility in Edgartown or to the development office of Martha's Vineyard Hospital to be used for building a new facility. Further information can be obtained from Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.