Charles Edgar Ganote, M.D., passed away at home with family and friends on June 2nd, 2014 from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) at the age of 77. He was born in Blanchester, Ohio on February 9, 1937 to Marion Edgar and Mildred (Garwood) Ganote. He received his M.D. from Vanderbilt School of Medicine in Nashville in 1965. He did his medical residency at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, DC, where his three children were born. He joined the Pathology Department at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago in 1969, where he taught and did research for 20 years, including a sabbatical year in England, where he learned to climb â€" something that added immensely to his life. He left Chicago to join the ETSU Medical School in Johnson City, Tennessee in 1989, as a Professor of Pathology, serving there over 25 years. He excelled in cardiac pathology research, often presenting papers at the International Society for Heart Research throughout the world. Dr. Ganote was an outstanding mentor and teacher to hundreds of medical students and residents in his career. He was also an avid sportsman, an accomplished archer, marksman, cross-country skier, occasional tennis player and an outstanding rock climber ¬â€" a sport and enthusiasm he shared with his wife of 20 years, Cindy, whom he met climbing at Devil’s Lake, Wisconsin. After arriving at Johnson City, Charles and Cindy spent many weekends at their West Virginia cabin, where he climbed at the upper levels of difficulty even at age 76, inspiring many younger climbers with his power and grace, as well as his stewardship of the Bubba City climbing area of the New River Gorge, and where he taught his grandchildren climbing, archery, riflery and a love of the outdoors.

He loved animals and was often seen walking his Scotties, Westies and foster red Border Collie Danny. He created wildlife habitats both at home in Johnson City and at his WV cabin. He shared his wonderful photos of wildlife with others, contributing to the Wildflower Guide to Buffalo Mountain, as well as action photos of dogs at Obedience and Agility Trials when Cindy was showing the Westies.

He is survived by his wife Cynthia (Cindy) Hintz of 20 years, sons C. Stephen (wife Felicia) Ganote of Washington DC and David Ganote of Phoenix Arizona; grandchildren Alexander, Anna, and Charles Henry Ganote of Washington DC; brother Marvin (wife Wylan) Ganote of Dayton, Ohio; and the mother of his sons, Catharine Reeve. He was predeceased by one son Philip Ganote.

A Celebration of Life service (casual dress) will be held Friday, June 6 from 4:30â€"6:30 at the Fellowship Hall of Covenant Presbyterian Church, 603 Sunset Drive, Johnson City. In keeping with his love of climbing and nature, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Access Fund [P.O. Box 17010, Boulder, Colorado 80308 or online] or the Nature Conservancy [Attn: Treasury (web/memorial giving)
 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, 
Arlington, VA 22203 or online], in his memory.