Local man, longest-surviving heart transplant patient, dies

Tony Huesman, (left) longest living heart transplant recipient, talks with friends at the 13th annual Heart Gala in the Ponitz Center at Sinclair Community College. Huelsman was honored at the Gala.

Jan Underwood, staff photo Tony Huesman, (left) longest living heart transplant recipient, talks with friends at the 13th annual Heart Gala in the Ponitz Center at Sinclair Community College. Huelsman was honored at the Gala.

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By James Cummings, Staff Writer Updated 5:08 PM Monday, August 10, 2009

Tony Huesman of Washington Twp., the longest-surviving single-graft heart transplant patient in the United States, died Sunday, Aug. 9, from cancer, said his wife Carol Huesman.

Huesman, 52, was diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy while a sophomore at Alter High School and eventually had an experimental heart transplant at Stanford University. Last year he celebrated the 30th anniversary of that operation, which saved his life.

Huesman later founded the Huesman Heart Foundation and served as its president. The foundation seeks to reduce heart disease by educating children.

Carol Huesman on Monday said her husband passed away Sunday night about 10 p.m. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2395 or jcummings@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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