Michael J. Halberstam

Michael Joseph Halberstam (August 9, 1932 – December 5, 1980) was an American cardiologist and author. In 1980 Halberstam was killed by a gunshot wound during an attempted burglary of his residence in Washington, D.C.

Michael J. Halberstam
Born
Michael Joseph Halberstam

(1932-08-09)August 9, 1932
The Bronx, New York
DiedDecember 5, 1980(1980-12-05) (aged 48)
Washington, District of Columbia
Cause of deathHomicide
EducationM.D., Boston University School of Medicine
Occupation(s)Cardiologist, author
Years active1962–1980
RelativesDavid Halberstam (brother)
Elliott Jones (spouse)

Early life and education

Halberstam was born on August 9, 1932, in The Bronx, New York, the first of two sons for Dr. Charles Abraham, a U.S. Army surgeon and Blanche Levy Halberstam, a teacher.[1][2] Halberstam's younger brother was the award-winning journalist and historian David Halberstam.[1]

Halberstam attended Harvard College, where he was managing editor of The Harvard Crimson (as his brother David would also be) and won the Dana Reed Prize for the best piece of writing published in a Harvard student publication.[3] Halberstam earned an A.B. in History with honors from Harvard in 1953 and earned a M.D. from the Boston University School of Medicine in 1957.[1]

Career

Halberstam served in the U.S. Public Health Service, then completed his internship and residency in New York City and Burlington, Vermont.[1] In 1962 Halberstam became a fellow in cardiology at George Washington University Hospital and later taught at the university's medical school.[1] Halberstam established a private practice in 1964.[1]

In addition to medical papers in his field, Halberstam wrote on topics including Medicare[4] and litigation against physicians,[5] as well as television reviews of medical shows like Marcus Welby, M.D. In 1978 Halberstam wrote a novel, The Wanting of Levine, about a self-made millionaire real estate investor who becomes the first Jewish U.S. President.[6] In 2017 journalist Ira Stoll described The Wanting of Levine as having "most cannily anticipated" the presidency of Donald Trump.[3]

Death

On December 5, 1980, Halberstam was shot at his Washington, D.C. home by Bernard C. Welch Jr., a prolific thief and escaped convict who lived in nearby Great Falls, Virginia.[7][8] Halberstam and his wife surprised Welch when they returned home that evening to find Welch burglarizing their house.[9]

Despite having been shot twice in the chest by Welch, Halberstam told his wife to get into their car, and he drove them toward Sibley Hospital. On the way to the hospital, Halberstam saw Welch, shouted, "That's the guy!" and swerved to hit him. Welch was wounded, but not fatally injured. Halberstam crashed his car into a tree near the hospital, and was taken to the emergency room by ambulance. Halberstam died on the operating table approximately 90 minutes after he was shot.[10] District of Columbia police arrested the wounded Welch.[11] At Welch's trial, the prosecuting attorney pointed at him, and used Halberstam's words, "That's the guy!"[12]

Welch received life sentences for one count each of felony murder and second-degree armed burglary, to be served concurrently, four counts of burglary and four counts of grand larceny totaling 143 years.[13][14]

Halberstam's widow, Elliott Jones, filed a successful wrongful death suit against Welch and his common-law wife on behalf of Halberstam's estate, and was awarded a $5.7 million judgment.[15] Bernard Welch died in prison in 1997.[16]

Selected bibliography
  • — (1978). The wanting of Levine (First ed.). Lippincott. ISBN 978-0397010936. LCCN 78002650. OCLC 3705603. OL 4716251M – via Internet Archive.
  • A Coronary Event (1976)
  • The Pills in Your Life (1973)
  • Making the rounds with Sir William (1974)

References
  1. Smith, J. Y. (December 7, 1980). "Michael J. Halberstam, Physician, Author and Sportsman". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  2. Haberman, Clyde (April 24, 2007). "David Halberstam, 73, Reporter and Author, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  3. "Trump's Electoral Triumph Was Imagined in a Novel Written 40 Years Ago". New York Sun. nysun.com. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  4. Halberstam, Michael J. (August 13, 1967). A Doctor's Diagnosis Of Medicare; Diagnosis of Medicare (Cont.) Medicare is converting hospitals into geriatric institutions. The New York Times
  5. Halberstam, Michael J. (February 14, 1971). The Doctor's New Dilemma – 'Will I Be Sued?' The New York Times
  6. Sherrill, Robert (May 21, 1978). "President Levine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  7. Ledbetter, Les (6 December 1980). "Michael J. Halberstam, Physician and Writer, Is Slain; Wrote Several Books and Articles". The New York Times. p. 1-24. eISSN 1553-8095. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  8. Klose, Kevin (August 8, 1985). "Bernard Welch Recaptured In Pennsylvania Town". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  9. Reinhold, Robert (December 7, 1980). Michael J. Halberstam, Washington Physician and Author, Fatally Shot; Confrontation Near Front Door A Man of Many Talents. The New York Times; accessed April 11, 2018.
  10. Mansfield, Stephanie (December 11, 1980). "'Oh, Baby, You're Shot'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  11. Lyons, Richard D. (December 8, 1980). Slaying Suspect A Puzzle to Neighbors; House Was Toured Periods Away From Home Control of Handguns Sought. The New York Times
  12. Lyons, Richard D. (April 11, 1981). Escaped Felon Is Convicted of Murdering Dr. Halberstam, a Noted Washington Cardiologist, The New York Times; accessed May 24, 2017.
  13. Milestones. Time
  14. "AROUND THE NATION; Killer of Halberstam Given 9 Consecutive Life Terms". The New York Times (National ed.). Associated Press. 23 May 1981. p. 1-8. eISSN 1553-8095. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2022. Bernard C. Welch, convicted of the murder of Michael Halberstam, the author and cardiologist, was sentenced today to nine consecutive life terms in prison. [...] Under the sentence of Chief Judge H. Carl Moultrie 3d of District of Columbia Superior Court, Mr. Welch would be eligible for parole in 143 years.
  15. "Elliott Jones Halberstam, Individually, and Asadministratrix of the Estate of Michael Halberstam, Deceased v. Bernard C. Welch, Jr., A/k/a Norm Hamilton, Larry Lee Boone,john William Landis, Bernard Miles, Myron Henrysnow, Jr., Linda S. Hamilton, Appellants, 705 F.2d 472 (D.C. Cir. 1983)". Justia Law. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  16. "Last Swishes". Washington City Paper. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
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