Drew Hittenberger, CPO, passed away on April 19. He was a fourth generation practitioner who continued a family legacy that lasted for over 123 years.
Hittenberger studied prosthetics at Northwestern University and completed his clinical work at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Los Angeles. After receiving his certification, he became a lead researcher at Prosthetics Research Study in Seattle. He contributed papers, gave lectures and trainings, and collaborated on the invention of the Seattle Foot that received the US Presidential Award for design in 1985 before returning to the family company in California.
A highlight of Hittenberger’s career was a trip to Russia with Vietnam veterans from the United States and Russian veterans who had fought in Afghanistan. Their mission was to collaborate in designing and rapidly delivering affordable, adjustable prostheses and to work together to deal with the aftereffects of wars.
Hittenberger later established an independent practice in Petaluma, California, and also dedicated his talents to other rehabilitation efforts, including pioneering work in veterinary prosthetics, contributing to adaptive ski programs, and becoming a medical-legal consultant. His reputation for invention, compassionate care, humor, and generosity garnered countless business, service, and humanitarian awards along with the admiration of doctors, rehabilitation specialists, and his patients and their families.
Hittenberger’s great-grandfather, a leather craftsman and inventor, immigrated from Germany. His son, Carl, founded the C.H. Hittenberger Company in 1902. After WWII, under the leadership of Carl’s son, Herman C. Hittenberger, the company was renamed Hittenberger’s.
The Hittenberger’s friends and family established the Hittenberger Family Legacy Fund with annual scholarships for students enrolled in the Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center (NUPOC).
Visit NUPOC to read more about the Hittenberger legacy.
