2008 Deaths

November Howard L. Kirz MD, emergency medicine/adm. medicine, d. August 22 of a heart attack while bicycling, age 65.  Med school: U of Chicago.  Practice mainly in Washington state. Never a member. Linda Susan Stewart Hill, St. Mary’s patient tech nurse, emergency room technician, d. June 16, age 50.    Cameron “Dawn” Ingram RN, d. Sept 15, age 72.  Edith Hamilton Myers d. Nov. 1, age 81 – wife of Harmon Myers DO, mother-in-law of dermatologist Tamara Whiteley-Myers. Dr. Klein said Mary Fried died October 26.  She worked in microbiology at TMC.  Born in Canada, she was a Tucson High graduate and had a PhD.  “She was always helpful and friendly,” he said.   Dr. Klein, who spoke at Dr. Whaley’s funeral, passed around the funeral program and noted the officiating minister could really speak.  He noted many of Dr. Whaley’s colleagues were in the audience. October Joseph Sexter Whaley MD, family practice, d. October from lymphoma, age 74.  Med school: Hahnemann.  Private practice 154 S. Main, 368 E. Grant 1963-1998. Arizona prison physician 1998-2008.  Member 1963-2008.  PCMS President 2003. Dr. Klein said Dr. Whaley suffered from lymphoma.  He had chemo, then contracted a virus.  He was hospitalized Wednesday and died October 11.  He came here in 1963 and his application was endorsed by A.B. Thompson MD and William Holsey MD.  He took over Thompson’s practice.  He was PCMS president in 2003 and the incumbent president of the Foundation. Andre Bruwer MD, radiology, d. Sept. 29, age 89.  Med School: Cape Town, South Africa ‘42.  Came to US in 1946 and did a residency at Mayo ’47-51.  Moved to Tucson in 1957 and became a US citizen in 1958.  Radiology Ltd., Cerelle Center.  Member 1957-2008.  Dr. Bruwer has a physician son, Michael, in practice and it is believed his son Eric was also a physician.  His skiagraphs are works of art.  Dr. Hastings recalled a physician discussion group that used to meet at Vince’s restaurant on Speedway that turned into “mainly Viet Nam.  Dr. Bruwer was part of that group.  Dr. Jackson said that he, Dr. Wright  and Dr. Bruwer used to meet at Dr. Nash’s house for discussions in the early part of this century. Crystal Ann Popvich RN, d. Sept 17, age 52.  UA College of Nursing grad, 17 years at St. Mary’s. Dorothy Grace Sheffield Bjelland d. Oct 3, age 89 – mother of radiologist John Bjelland.  Marjorie Ann Kalota, d. Sept 5, mother-in-law of Susan Kalota MD. September Catherine Metzger Rose MD, Radiology, d. June 22 from cancer, age 49.  Med school and training: Arizona.  Radiology Ltd and UA Dept of Radiology.  Member 1998-2008.  Robert B. Patterson MD, general practice, d. June 27.  Med School: Louisville ’60.  Practiced 30 years in Willcox.  Never a member.  Dr. Klein remembered him coming to his office and introducing himself.  Another member said he was gruff and lived in a Willcox house with a stockade fence in front that he called “Fort Pat.” Myron Morris MD, pediatrics and allergy, d. June 23.  Med School: Vanderbilt, PhD from Wisconsin.  Practiced in Boston, retired to Tucson in 1993. Darrel E. Goll, PhD, died July 21 of a heart attack.  PhD. Biochem Wisconsin 1962. UA faculty 1976.  Founding member of the Sarver Heart Center. Marguerite N. Graham, pioneer woman pharmacist, died in early June, age 89.  Came to Tucson after WW II, worked at Swan Drug and Southern Pacific Hospital.  Swan Drug was recalled as being just east of Swan and Speedway and having a swan on the sign. Margaret L. D. Burns RN, MSN, EdD d. July 27, age 69.  Nurse around the country, last 10 years in Tucson with the juvenile detention center and UPH. Ann Hardy Payne, RN, d. early August.  Lived in Green Valley, married to Dr. Howard Payne.  Dr. Payne was a former ArMA president. Linda M McCleland, RN, d. Aug. 19, age 59. Nurse night supervisor St. Joseph’s for 31 years. Melissa Anne Gunn, RN, d. June 27, age 57.  Born in Tucson in 1951.  Family and career took her around country.  Died in Farmington where she was a nurse and practice manager. Cherie Brown, RN, d. July 22 colorectal cancer, age 49.   Trauma nurse, St. Joseph’s. Margaret Coy RN, d. July 8, age 79.  Worked in New York and Arizona until she retired in 1990. Dr. Klein said Dr. Shaun McManimon’s mother died, Ed Felix’s widow died June 26, the widow of former PCMS President Dennis Bernstein died July 27, Jeff Selwyn’s dad died and Henry Kagan, a long-time TMC volunteer died.    June Richard Brown, pediatric cardiology, d. May 11, age 80 of prostate cancer.  Med School: Jefferson Medical College, ’54. Internship Cincinnati Gen Hosp, ’55-’56. Residency Cincinnati Children’s Hosp, ’57-58. Residency, pediatric cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, pediatric cardiology. Practiced in Tucson until retirement in ’97. Mabel Mae Baker RN, d. May 5.  Air force nurse 1944-1950.  Dr. Klein said Dr. M. Lee Shultz’s mother in law died and that Peter Ryers’s mom died.  May Brenda Brose (Lazar) MD, d. May 10, age 67.  Med. School Northwestern ‘66, ophthalmology.  Evanston IL practice ’70-’88. Tucson practice 1988 GHMA, later joined Tucson Eye Associates.  Retired 2007.  Member 1990-2008.  Samuel N. Pozner MD, d. April, age 84.  Medical School Toronto ’52.  Practiced in Toronto 1957-1975, Israel 1975-1979, Tucson 1979-2000.  Member 1980-1988.  Eva Wallen Foti MD, d. March 31, age 91.  Cornell/Vermont medical education.  Practiced at military hospitals where her husband was stationed.  Family practice.  Never a member.  Sheila Bakotic, 56, died 4/22.  Wife of  Raymond Bakotic DO.   Donna Hill RN, 63, died 5/4.  Widow of Dr. Ron Hill.  Janet Gallagher, 81, died 5/4.  Widow of Hugh Gallagher MD.  Elaine Saba, 94, died 4/25.  Widow of Dr. Joseph Saba (Bisbee). Mary Garcia RN, d. 4/20, age 83.  30 years at Thomas Davis. Janet Mae Nolf RN, died 4/7, age 83.  24 years at VA. Dr. Klein said there was a memorial in the paper in April for Dr. John Wild (senior).  Jack Eversole of Blue Cross died as did Dr. Steven Strober’s mother.  There was also a long write-up about the life of Dr. Coady.  April Lloyd S. Epstein MD, d. March 27, age 86.  Med. School Harvard, general surgeon.  Tucson practice 1959.  Practced at 1535 N. Tucson, 2406 E. Elm, 601 N. Wilmot, 2260 N. Rosemont.  Retired 1987.  Member 1959-2008.  He was president of the Pima County Medical Foundation.  His wife, Bunny, got a job in Washington DC, but was killed in a car wreck in Texas on the way there. Philip John Polina MD (Col., USAF), d. March 15, age 77.  Medical School Geneva (Switz.) ’56.  Practiced in New York, joined Air Force 1978.  Stationed at DM 1978-1984, 87-91.  Joined JCAHO 1991-2002.  Never a member. Dorothea M. Gearhart, widow of Robert S. Gearhart MD, died 7/16/07.  In Star 3/16/08.  Her husband Robert had been the medical director at the Southern Pacific Hospital. Deanne Jean Bock Nelson LPN, died 4/2/08, age 68.  Worked at St.. Joseph’s for 28 years, member state board of nursing. Samuel Boxer, father of  Michael Boxer MD, died March 12.  Natalie S. Hayes, grandmother of Sean McCafferty MD, died March 28. The sister of Warren eddy MD died and Eleanor Luther, long time nurse in Tucson, also died. March Bernard Witten Simons MD, d. March, age 81.  Med. School Stanford ‘52, General surgeon.  Life-long surgeon.  Tucson practice 1958.   Member 1958-1988; 1993-2008.  According to Dr. Jackson, Dr. Simons retired in 1990.  Dr. Jackson read a lovely tribute he sent to the newspaper and it will be included in Sombrero. Alexander “Sandy” Woods MD, JD, d. Feb 16, age 85.  Medical School Johns Hopkins ’52, Internal Medicine.  Attended Arizona Desert School for Boys.  Joined founding faculty at UA College of Medicine. Member 1965-1975; 1987-2008. Betty Slosser died Feb. 16.  Widow of Paul Slosser MD (Yuma) and mother of Paul Slosser MD. Susan Grimm Woodward RN, died Feb. 14, age 76. Kathy Eppley RN died Feb. 14, age 54. Nancy Ann Leonardo Santos RN, died January 23, age 52.  UMC Nurse for 30 years. Fathers of Dr. Stephen Pozez and Dr. Wendy Huempfner died in March.  Grandmother of Alliance President  Kynn Escalante died.. February Richard L. Dexter MD, d. January 9, age 81.  Med. School Cornell ‘53, Cardiologist .  Tucson 1958.   Member 1958-1995.  Served on numerous PCMS committees.  President PCMS 1972.  President ArMA 78-79.  Head of BOMEX. Alan Porter Dean MD, d. January 10, age 72.  Medical School Rochester ’57, anesthesiology (Pima Anes, Southern Arizona Anes Services – mainly at St. Joseph’s).  Member 1974-1980; 1988-92. Kazuo Tashiro MD, d. January 11, age 89.  Medical School Cincinnati ’44, GP (Ohio), radiology (1011 N. Craycroft, Kino Hosp., Cochise Hosp).   Member 1980-1981. John William Ver Steeg MD, died Dec. 30, 2007, age 63. Medical School Northwestern.  Came to Tucson 1983 after retiring and volunteered with Dennis Wolfson MD.  Never a member. Mary Anne Kane RN, died Feb. 7, age 84.  Graduated from and taught nursing at Creighton.  Married Bill Kane MD and lived in Butte, Montana until his death.  Moved to Tucson in 1970.  Worked in St. Joseph OR until 1992. Fathers of Dr. James Angiulo and Dr. Michael Hamant died in February.