Dr. Henry Heimlich holding a copy of his memoir at his home—Al Behrman/AP
“Shortly before his death at 96, this doctor used his own maneuver to save a choking victim at his senior living home.”
“Who is Dr. Henry Heimlich?”—A question that many at Episcopal Retirement Services (ERS) answered with pride last week when it aired on “Jeopardy!”. The heroic act happened right here at Deupree House—one of our premier Cincinnati retirement communities.
Nearly a decade later, this unforgettable moment still speaks volumes about the extraordinary lives of our residents, past and present. It’s also one of the many ways we continue to honor those we’ve lost—by remembering their impact and celebrating their legacy.
The story that helped land Dr. Heimlich in the 2025 “Famous Names” category on Jeopardy! began on a busy evening in May 2016. The dining room at Deupree House was filled with residents enjoying their dinners and lively conversation. Suddenly, the room fell silent when former resident, Patty Ris, began choking on a piece of hamburger. The man next to her sprang into action, turning her around and pressing on her abdomen three times to dislodge the piece of meat.
That man was none other than Dr. Henry Heimlich—the renowned surgeon, medical innovator, and humanitarian who created the Heimlich Maneuver in 1974. “I sort of felt wonderful about it, having saved that woman,” said Heimlich, who had lived at Deupree House for about six years at the time.
Patty, who fully recovered from the incident, said she had been choking so hard that she was gasping for air. She later told Dr. Heimlich, “God put me in that seat right next to you, Dr. Heimlich, so you could save my life.”
A former Deupree House kitchen manager witnessed the event firsthand, saying, “It was almost like history was being made.” Everyone had stopped eating and talking to watch as Dr. Heimlich performed his famous maneuver. Patty’s experience that night touched everyone within the ERS community, and her heartfelt words to Dr. Heimlich remain a powerful reminder of how deeply our residents impact one another.
Dr. Heimlich’s son, former Cincinnati city councilman and Hamilton County commissioner Phil Heimlich, credited his father’s regular, active lifestyle at Deupree House for allowing him to react so quickly. “The fact that he’s at such a great institution as Deupree, I think has enabled him to stay in shape and keep active,” he said back when the incident occurred.
Sadly, Dr. Heimlich passed away shortly after his heroic act, but his legacy lives on in so many ways—not only in the lives saved by his maneuver, but also in the memories shared by those who lived alongside him at Deupree House.
Media coverage
Dr. Heimlich’s lifesaving use of his technique at Deupree House made international headlines, including coverage by The New York Times and other major outlets. Check out these links to read the stories:
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