“Saltwater runs in my blood,” he says, adding that since medical school, he’s also owned saltwater aquariums.
Years ago, he developed a reputation as a saltwater fish connoisseur among the local medical community and captured the attention of a physician named Joshua Lederberg, who won the Noble Prize in 1958 for his work in genetic structure and function in microorganisms. Dr. Lederberg was moving from California to New York to accept the position of president of Rockefeller University. He contacted Dr. Furie for tips on moving his son’s saltwater aquarium across the country.
Over the years, Dr. Furie’s saltwater hobbies have lent balance to his active life, and he offers a tip to young physicians: “Try to develop hobbies when you’re young,” Dr. Furie says. “As you get older, it’s harder to do because there are too many demands on your time.”
Carol Patton is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas.
