Dr. Morton Arndorf was a resident of Beverly Shores, Indiana. He was a prominent cardiologist who was a professor at the University of Chicago Medical Center. He was a Major in the Air Force, a graduate of Harvard and Columbia Universities, a pioneer researcher, an award winner, a mentor and much more. Sadly, he was also a victim of drunk driving. 

I still hear the echo of Dr. Morton Arnsdorf and his wife Rosemary Crowley’s laughter behind me as they enjoyed the musical performance of “Name That Internal Organ.” This was a musical performed by their grandson, Liam Crowley, and his classmates from Children’s Learning World Montessori School in Niles on May 26. 

Sadly, that was the last day Liam Crowley and his parents saw Dr. Arnsdorf. I was informed by Jennifer Crowley, Liam’s mom, that on June 9, Dr. Arndorf faced his horrific death caused by a 17 year old boy driving under the influence. It was a sad day in the Arndorf household, Crowley household, and in the elementary class of Children’s Learning World.

According to Matt Field, a staff writer for the newsdispatch.com, the mother of the offender stated that “her son was still a kid who’d simply been celebrating on the beach.”

The question then remains, why a KID is celebrating at the beach with alcohol and driving after drinking? Talking about driving under the influence of alcohol, 6 year old Liam stated,

“It is horrible, because it is not safe and makes people lose their lives.”

 How is it that a six year old is able to understand the gravity of this and a 17 year old is not? Liam’s classmates were all saddened by his and his family’s tragic loss. They all sat down to make cards for the Crowley family.

 “Grandma is feeling very, very sad and I am feeling sad too,” continued Liam.

 “My mom is inconsolable,” were the words of Colin Crowley, Liam’s father. 

 “The teenagers were hurt but they did not die. I wish they did not invent alcohol or beer,” concluded Liam as his eyes welled up with tears revealing the grief he was feeling.

 Isn’t it enough that many lives are being snuffed out by this senseless behavior? Drunk drivers not only affect the victims and their families, but also rob lifelong special relationships from innocent young children. 

We are thankful to Dr. Morton Arnsdorf for his services to the community at large and to the world of science.  More information about Dr. Arnsdorf could be found at:

http://news.uchicago.edu/news.php?asset_id=2010