Richard David Aach, MD

Born February 27, 1933. Passed away peacefully on June 26, 2026. His last weeks were filled with a steady stream of family and friends. Beloved husband of the late Janet Rose (nee Silverman) Aach. Cherished father of Jordan Aach, Laura (Gregg) Hollabaugh, Joyce (Gregory) Bryan, and Susan Aach. Loving grandfather of Melissa (Andy) Vien, William (Katherine) Hollabaugh, MDs, Nina (Ethan) Weiss, Annie (partner Brandon Oker) Bryan, and Gavin (partner Arie Ciganovich) Bryan. Dear great grandfather to Genevieve Hollabaugh, Henry Hollabaugh and Nora Weiss. Beloved son of the late Arthur and Blanche Aach. Loving brother of Marilyn Levy. Our dear uncle, cousin, friend and physician.

Dick grew up in St. Louis’ DeMun neighborhood and graduated from Clayton High School. During grade school, he met Janet Silverman at Camp Hawthorn in the Ozarks, and the childhood sweethearts eventually shared 65 wonderful years of marriage.

He attended Washington University and Washington University School of Medicine (WashU) before completing his internal medicine residency at WashU and a fellowship in hepatology at Yale. In 1963, Dick and his family returned to St. Louis, where he joined the Department of Medicine at Barnes Hospital and specialized in liver disease. During his distinguished 40-year academic career, he served as the internal medicine residency program director at both WashU and Case Western, taught generations of medical students and residents, published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters, and conducted research that contributed to the identification of the hepatitis C virus.

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He later held leadership positions at Johns Hopkins/Sinai Hospital in Baltimore and Case Western Reserve University/Mount Sinai Hospital in Cleveland, where he ultimately served as Chief Operating Officer. He received numerous honors throughout his career, including the 1974 Teacher of the Year Award at WashU, the Distinguished Alumni Award from WashU, and induction into the Clayton High School Hall of Fame in 2014. Following retirement and return to St. Louis in 2004, he remained a Professor Emeritus at Case Western Reserve University until his passing. Following Janet’s passing in 2020, he later found renewed companionship and joy with his childhood friend, Jan Baron, whose love enriched his final years and was treasured by Dick and his family.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 10:00 at United Hebrew Cemetery, 7855 Canton Avenue, 63130. Contributions in Richard’s memory may be made to the Osher LifeLong Learning Institute, the Missouri Botanical Garden, or the charity of your choice.

A RINDSKOPF-ROTH SERVICE