G. Clayton Kyle, 90, physician

G. Clayton Kyle, 90, formerly of Chestnut Hill, a Philadelphia endocrinologist who specialized in treating diabetes, died Wednesday, Dec. 24, of complications from a subdural hematoma at Beaumont at Bryn Mawr.

Dr. Kyle spent his entire career at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and served as the chairman of its medical board from 1977 until 1979. He rose to the level of clinical associate professor of medicine.

Dr. Kyle's work centered on controlling the negative effects of diabetes. He was one of the first to propose that tight control of blood sugar could delay or prevent complications.

"He had a style of his own, where he made it clear to the patient and their family how important the tight control of the blood sugar is, and with the best interest of the patient in mind, was often direct about the effort that would take," said Mitchell A. Lazar, chief of HUP's division of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism.

Driving home that point was the way Dr. Kyle showed that he cared, Lazar said.

Dr. Kyle founded the Rodebaugh Diabetes Center at HUP and served on its board throughout his career. The center changed treatment of the disease in the region by bringing together diabetes specialists, nurses, podiatrists, and nutritionists, and others skilled in managing various aspects of the illness.

"There are hundreds of people alive today with fewer complications because of the care and vision of Dr. Kyle," Lazar said.

Dr. Kyle was born in Montclair, N.J., and lived in Chestnut Hill before moving to Beaumont at Bryn Mawr in early 2000.

He graduated from Princeton University in 1945 and received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1947. After completing his residency there in internal medicine, he served with the CIA in Munich, West Germany, from 1951 until 1953.

Once back in the United States, he became an instructor at HUP, "the institution he loved," his family said.

Following his retirement, HUP established the G. Clayton Kyle associate professorship in diabetes. The chair is currently occupied by Mark Schutta.

Dr. Kyle served on the boards of Chestnut Hill Academy and Springside School.

He was a former member of the Philadelphia Cricket Club, the Pohoqualine Fishing Association, the Sunnybrook Golf Club, the Acorn Club, and the Rabbit, a dining club made up of old Philadelphia families.

His hobbies included gardening and fly fishing, but the latter was his passion, his family said; he once landed a 20-pound permit on a bamboo rod with a freshwater fly reel while in Mexico.

Dr. Kyle was married to Barbara McDowell from 1946 until her death in 1998.

Surviving are sons Rogers, Clayton, Wallace, and Louis; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, 8000 St. Martins Lane. Burial is private.

Donations may be made in Dr. Kyle's name to Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine Office of Development, 3535 Market St., Suite 750, Philadelphia 19104.