Juan Javier Garro, M.D.

Esteemed and beloved surgeon and humanitarian, Juan Javier Garro, M.D. passed away peacefully on October 15th, 2022 in Bethesda, MD, at the age of 89.  After a long and courageous fight, Juan succumbed to successive complications secondary to his battle with Parkinson’s.  In the weeks leading up to his passing he was surrounded by family and friends who loved him dearly and who will continue to honor his legacy and memory by living their lives to the fullest.

Dr. Garro was born on September 10th, 1933, one of six children, to Arnaldo and Ernestina Garro.  Growing up in Cañete, Peru, Juan learned far too soon the impact of losing a loved one.  When he was just a boy his oldest sister, Julia, was lost to an ailment that, tragically, could have been treated with proper medical care.  It was then that Juan first realized just how truly fleeting life is.  From that day forward he decided to live every moment of his life like it was his last.

In 1958, having received his medical degree from Universidad De San Marcos - San Fernando School of Medicine in Lima, Peru, Juan set out to the United States.  He completed his residency at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in Baltimore, MD and his residency in Otolaryngology at the Washington Hospital Center, Children's National Medical Center, and Veterans Administration Hospital, all in Washington D.C.  After staying on to complete his surgical residency at the Washington Hospital Center, Dr. Garro went on to complete his fellowship in Otology at Baylor University College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. 

Juan was a board certified Otolaryngologist, author, world-renowned surgeon and humanitarian.  He focused his life’s work on the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology by performing often unprecedented surgical procedures and delivering unparalleled patient care on a global scale.

Since the loss of his sister as a boy, Dr. Garro understood the power of medicine and did whatever he could to expand its reach around the world.  Apart from his practice, Dr. Garro served as the Vice President of The Portmann Foundation, a pioneering international institute for ear microsurgery located in Bordeaux, France.  He too was a pioneer in his field and dedicated a substantial part of his time each year in humanitarian efforts.  Serving selflessly in countries such as, Czechoslovakia, Honduras, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, France, San Salvador, Spain, Ethiopia and his native home, Peru, Dr. Garro was recognized as one of the foremost humanitarians in his field receiving the Distinguished Award for Humanitarian Service from the American Board of Otolaryngology in 1999.

His commitment to education was visible both in his insatiable hunger to learn and in his willingness to pay it forward and teach others.  Dr. Garro taught himself to play guitar at the age of 60.  He spoke five languages.  Sunday mornings while his children were just waking up he had already been pouring through medical journals and surgical textbooks for hours.  Whether here in the Metropolitan area, on a humanitarian trip abroad or through the medical practice he established in Peru, Dr. Garro donated his time to teach other physicians and surgeons what can only be learned through experience. His cutting-edge surgical techniques and treatment protocols are now helping people all over the world overcome illness and disabilities and achieve a better quality of life.  Dr. Garro was known for his incredibly generous nature and he took every opportunity to share his learnings and experiences in the field of medicine.   For this, Dr. Garro was adored by both his colleagues and patients alike.

Juan met the love of his life, a nurse named Martha (Moody), while attending his medical internship at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD.  Married in 1963, together they had four children who loved him dearly: Michelle, Christopher, Jennifer and Michael.  Enamored by his storytelling, unconditional support and even his sometimes high expectations, his children provided him with a home full of love, laughter and tradition.  However, one person’s love stood above the rest and it was that of his wife, Martha.  With countless sacrifices and a love unphased by life’s adversities, Martha raised four very strong-willed children while working full-time as a nurse and manager for Juan’s demanding private practice.  The love between them was strong and enduring.  Martha was the center of his world and even in his last moments he took what strength he had to say, “Take me home.  I don’t want your mother to watch TV alone.”

Dr. Garro knew the value and the beauty of traveling and seeing the world and he wanted to pass that along to his children.  During his time with the Portmann Foundation, Juan and his family would spend summers in Paris and in Bordeaux.  Juan had an astute palate for wine and was passionate about the châteaus of Bordeaux.  Fittingly it was there, in Bordeaux, that he was appointed Grand Connétable de Guyenne.  The Grand Connétablie was an ancient Bordeaux institution charged with monitoring and guarding the wine barrels of Château de l’Ombrière circa 1152.  Today, the Connétablie is the third oldest vinous brotherhood in Bordeaux, France.  Made up of owners of prestigious wines, sommeliers, winemakers and globally influential personalities, the Connétablie serve as the guardians of the traditions of quality and authenticity innate in Bordeaux wines stemming back to the 11th century.

In 2011, Dr. Garro was awarded the distinction of Son of Cañete.  Decades after leaving the small town where he was born, Dr. Garro had become recognized as one of the leading head and neck surgeons in the world.  For this, the City of Cañete recognized him as what is loosely translated to Distinguished Son and awarded him the city's Civic Medal, an award given to inspirational figures native to the town of Cañete.  During the ceremony, the Mayor declared, “Dr. Garro will forever serve as a model for children and young people in Cañete.  He has made it very clear to all of us that excellence is something achievable by each and every child in this town.” You would often hear Juan say that this day was one of the proudest moments of his life.

Dr. Garro would unhesitatingly give of himself to ensure he took care of those he loved.  All who knew Dr. Garro knew he shared and loved generously.  Giving of his time, giving of his earnings, giving of just about everything he could give, all the way through his last days.  Juan was a great gift giver.  It was no surprise that the Christmas season was his favorite time of year.  All four kids arriving from as far away as California, Florida, and Massachusetts. Sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, a multitude of grandchildren and dogs all arriving to Grandma’s house to share gifts, stories, food, wine, Peruvian turkey, Inca Kola, Chicha etc.  His family tree flourished and Dr. Garro reveled in it all.  Year after year as the Master of Ceremonies, he would instill a spirit of Christmas that was undeniable and that will live on through his children and grandchildren for generations to come.

Friends and family knew Dr. Garro for his cool, calm confidence.  Juan was the guy in every picture holding up a peace sign.   He had a sly sense of humor and an innate ability to tell a great story.  Dr. Garro could captivate any audience with a crazy story about his cousin who could fly or the 16 German Shepherds he grew up with.  He was a historian.  He enjoyed all types of music and always wanted to play his Tower Records discoveries for his kids.  He played everything from cumbia to Bob Marley to Johann Strauss and he played it loud.  He loved dancing with his beautiful wife in the family room and in the Chalan.  He thoroughly enjoyed to push his kids’ buttons by attempting to order a Kir Royale at a Thai restaurant.  He was an artist in every sense of the word - living life in full color.  He loved photography, he loved making films, he painted, he played guitar.  Juan had a passion for technology.  He recorded every sporting event his children ever played.  He just possessed the rare ability to focus on those he loved, despite his demanding schedule.  He was simply a great man and an amazing husband and father.

Juan Garro was a man who grew up in a small town in Peru, moved to the United States with $54 in his wallet, married a beautiful woman and created a legacy that will live on forever.

Dr. Garro was loved.  He was admired.  He is and forever will be cherished.  For those of you that are grieving, feeling sad or just missing him; whether he was your friend, your father, your grandfather, your husband… know that Juan would want you to live on in honor of his legacy living life to its fullest potential.

“Be Strong… Strong like LION.”  - Juan Garro

Dr. Garro is survived by his wife Martha and four children, Michelle Garro (Frederic), Christopher Garro (Andrea), Jennifer Leusch (Herbert) and Michael Garro (Andrea); grandchildren Stuart Rault, Conor Rault, Sofia Leusch, Juan Christian Leusch, Massimiliano Garro, Emma Garro and Brixton Garro; siblings Arnaldo Garro and Teresa Roehrig. He is also survived by his three grand-dogs, Gaucho, Sailor and Hooper.

Visitation will begin at 10:30am on Monday, October 24, 2022 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 4101 Norbeck Rd, Rockville, MD 20853; where Family Remembrance will be offered at 11:45am and the Mass of Christian Burial at 12 noon.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dr. Garro's memory may be made to Care for Kids, an organization co-founded by his Granddaughter, Sofia Leusch; www.careforkidsorganization.org