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Former Physiology chair Hempling dies 

Harold George Hempling, Ph.D., professor emeritus and former chairman of the MUSC Department of Physiology, died Monday, April 8. Memorial services were held April 15.

Dr. Hempling was born May 21, 1926, in Richmond Hill, N.Y., the son of Jacob Hempling and Anna Perlstein Hempling. He served with the U.S. Army during WWII.

“Dr. Hempling was a consummate teacher and researcher,” said Layton McCurdy, M.D., former vice president of academic affairs. “He was an insightful scholar, totally dedicated to his field. He was deeply committed to providing his students with a solid foundation in the field of physiology.”

His administrative assistant of 20 years, Carol Heissenbuttle, recalls that after Dr. Hempling’s retirement he would come back to visit, bringing his home-grown roses to the staff of the Physiology Department. “He was a very kind and compassionate man, caring deeply about those around him,” she said.

“The physiology faculty referred to Dr. Hempling as a ‘Renaissance physiologist.’ He was knowledgeable and could teach in virtually every sub-discipline in the field of physiology,” Jerome G. Ondo, professor of physiology said.

Prior to his tenure at MUSC, he was professor of physiology at Cornell University Medical College, New York City. He served for five years on the Board of Education of the Bergenfield, N.J., school system. He was educated at New York University, Oberlin College and Princeton University.

He is survived by his wife, Claire Hernick Hempling of Charleston; two sons, William H. Hempling of Denver, Colo., Scott Hempling of Silver Spring, Md.; one daughter, Leslie Hempling of Malvern, Pa.; two brothers, Norman Hempling and Col. Jack Hempling, U.S. Army (Ret.) and one grandchild, Thomas Emanuel Hempling.