By Eileen Buckley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-987906.mp3
Buffalo, NY – The man who was the co-inventor of the first successfully implanted pacemaker died. Family members say Wilson Greatbatch was surrounded by his loved ones when he passed away Tuesday morning at a retirement home in Amherst.
Wilson Greatbatch was a Buffalo native. He founded Greatbatch, Incorporated in 1970 to develop pacemaker batteries. The company is headquartered in Clarence. Greatbatch held over 150-patents.
Today the company includes Greatbatch Medical, manufacturer of medical equipment along with pacemaker batteries.
President and CEO of Greatbatch, Thomas Hook, issued a written statement on the death of their founder:
"We were greatly saddened to learn of the passing of a great man and the founder of our company, Wilson Greatbatch.
Words cannot adequately describe the impact Mr. Greatbatch had on the lives of countless people. His influence was felt not only by those who knew him personally but also by those who never met the man but continue to lead fulfilling lives as a result of his work as the co-inventor of the first successful implanted pacemaker.
Mr. Greatbatch will be remembered as a husband, father, mentor, friend and inventor. Our company was founded on this man's spirit of innovation, and his legacy will live on in the work we do and the lives we touch."
WBFO even had a connection to the early years of Greatbatch's work. He was also involved with the engineering that was conducted to put WBFO on-air back in 1959.
Greatbatch was 92.