Dr. Werner Spitz, former chief medical examiner for Macomb and Wayne counties — who not only provided answers to grieving families locally but was a forensic expert sought to testify on some of the biggest cases in forensic history — has died.

He was 97.

His son, Jonathan Spitz, told the Detroit News he was hospitalized after a brief illness and “passed away peacefully” Sunday, surrounded by his family.

Renowned forensic pathologist Werner Spitz served as Macomb County’s medical examiner before his son Dan took over. (MACOMB DAILY FILE PHOTO)

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel is among the law enforcement who had the privilege of working with Spitz, who was part of a group of experts called upon to review President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

“The guy was ahead of his time,” said Hackel, who remembers Spitz being the first, if not one of the first, forensic pathologists in the nation to assertively communicate his opinions about a death.

“He was the one who I think put standards in place, for people to understand the importance of not only doing the autopsy but how you communicate to the public or jury,” Hackel said.

“He was someone … who really understood his job. He was the expert, and I think everyone knew that, not just in Macomb County but throughout the country.”

“He was usually spot on. I can’t remember many cases when he wasn’t.”

This consistency and confidence backed by years of experience gained not only in Macomb but also in Wayne County — led him to work as a consultant in many other high-profile death cases across the country, including the O.J. Simpson civil case, Jon Benet Ramsey and Phil Spector and later as a professor at Wayne State University.

Werner Spitz explains the evidence he reviewed in the case of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. MACOMB DAILY FILE PHOTO

He also shared his knowledge with others.

He maintained an office in St. Clair Shores — where people could reach him when perplexed on a case — including journalists. It also kept him abreast of what was going on in his field and served as a workspace for his writings — huge texts — that are used as references and inspiration to students of forensic pathology around the world.

Spitz and his wife, Anne, resided in Grosse Pointe Shores and have three children and 10 grandchildren.