Local 12 by Jenna Cisneros WKRC – Monday, June 20th 2022
CINCINNATI (WKRC) – He’s a well-known dermatologist and practiced medicine in Cincinnati for 64 years. At 97-years-old, Dr. Z. Charles Fixler is also a proud patriarch of an accomplished family.
“He set a great example for everybody in our family to achieve professionally and personally,” said Steve Fixler, Dr. Z Charles Fixlers’ oldest son.
Steve Fixler frequently visits his father at The Kenwood by Senior Star retirement community.
Dr. Fixler wears many hats, and after one conversation with him, you’ll quickly learn he has thousands of proud stories to share.
Recognized as a skin cancer educator instrumental in organizing Cincinnati’s annual Melanoma Week in the 1980s, Dr. Fixler has been published in several dermatological journals. In 2006, he received the Gold Triangle Award for Practitioner of the Year at the national conference of the American Academy of Dermatology.
His impressive medical career is also paired with a musical talent. At 97-years-old, he continues to play his trumpet.
One of Dr. Fixler’s fondest memories is when he had the opportunity to play his trumpet with the Beach Boys when they performed their hit song “Barbara Ann” at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati in June of 1994
“To Dr. Fixler. Thank you for allowing us to accompany you. The Beach Boys,” Dr. Fixler read to Local 12 off a signed picture.
Dr. Fixler currently plays his trumpet in a 37-piece Ohio military band. Aside from the trumpet, and prestigious medical awards, that’s not what he wants to talk about. During a Local 12 interview, he quickly shifted to dad mode.
“May I add one thing? All the children are professionals. My daughter is a practicing dentist. The next son, Don, is a family physician at Christ Hospital. Bob is practicing dermatology. And Steve is a retired lawyer. So we have all four, I’m so proud of them,” he said.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Dr. Robert Fixler graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1984. The two practiced medicine together for 27 years.
The legacy continues with his eleven grandchildren.
“Every one of my grandchildren, every one, has gone to a university or a college,” Dr. Z. Charles Fixler said. “It’s a wonderful feeling of course.”
“Just the fact that he is still alive at 97 is amazing and then he’s as able as he is at 97 to be able to… he has good mobility. He still thinks clearly. It’s just a tremendous thing to have somebody alive that long to be able to rely on and to be able to comfort from and still be part of the family,” Steve Fixler said.
While it isn’t easy being a dad, watching his children and now grandchildren find the beat to their own tune is easily his greatest story yet.
“For us to produce these four, and the other eleven. I’m just as proud as hell,” Dr. Fixler said.
To enjoy the video version of the story visit: https://local12.com/news/local/cincinnati-ohio-legacy-retired-dermatologist-moonlights-trumpet-player-age-97-doctor-z-charles-fixler-music-musician-skin-cancer-melanoma-week-military-band