By Rebecca Goodman
Enquirer staff writer

HYDE PARK - James Allan Wiseman was a devout Christian and family man who practiced obstetrics and gynecology out of his office at Bethesda Oak Hospital from 1961 until 1993. A third-generation Cincinnatian, he died Saturday of lung cancer at Hospice of Cincinnati in Blue Ash. He was 76.

"He touched a lot of people with his faith and with his medical care," said Helen Calvert Wiseman, his wife of 51 years. "He was a wonderful man. Of course, you're hearing from his wife - but he was. He was loved by his patients and by everybody he came in contact with. I think he was the smartest man I knew - and the kindest."

She received a large number of letters and cards from people who remember him the same way. "We have all lost our dear friend - one of the gentlest and kindest men on earth as well as a true follower of Christ," one of them said.

Born Aug. 20, 1928, Dr. Wiseman was the son of Julius Augustus Wiseman, a lawyer and player for the now-defunct minor league baseball team the Nashville Volunteers. He grew up in the Columbia-Tusculum house built by his grandfather, Samuel Vinton Wiseman, also a doctor.

Dr. Wiseman graduated from Walnut Hills High School, Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa., and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

He interned at the Navy Hospital in Philadelphia and was a naval flight surgeon in Pensacola, Fla., and Manila in the Philippines from 1955-57.

After his discharge as a lieutenant commander, he served a residency at Bethesda Oak Hospital from 1958 to 1961.

Dr. Wiseman became a member of Hyde Park Community Methodist Church in 1957. There, he was in the choir, chairman of the organ committee and president of the administrative board.

He liked to read, sing, hike, travel, canoe and vacation with his family.

In addition to his wife, survivors include: two sons, Tom Wiseman of Vero Beach, Fla., and Andrew Wiseman of Roswell, Ga.; two daughters, Wendy Myers and Amy Klassen, both of St. Louis, Mo.; and 14 grandchildren.

A memorial service is 10 a.m. Thursday at Hyde Park Community Methodist Church, 1345 Grace Ave. The family will greet friends in the social hall after the service. Burial is at Laurel Cemetery in Oakley.

Memorials: Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church, 1345 Grace Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208; Wesley Hall, 315 Lilienthal St., Cincinnati, OH 45204; or Hospice of Cincinnati, 4310 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242.