Obituary
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 Date of Death: Nov 20, 2017 Dr. Catherine Ann Richardson Died November 20, 2017, at her home in University Place, Washington, after a three-year battle against cancer. She was 68. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 1, 1949, to Joseph Glenn Richardson, operations manager at a manufacturing company, and Mae Elizabeth (Barksdale) Richardson, a grade school teacher. In 1970, she earned a B.A. with distinction from the University of Colorado, and went to work as a bone histologist and metabolic bone disease researcher. She earned an M.D. in 1986 from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She served her internship and residency at the University of Washington in Seattle.... |
 Date of Death: Jul 1, 2017 His life stretched from an internment camp to being Tacoma’s No. 1 doctor and beyond By Jared Brown jared.brown@thenewstribune.com Dr. George Tanbara always found a way to put patients first — long before he became a licensed doctor in 1952 and long after he officially retired in 2008. “If being retired is doing what you want to do, my father’s probably been retired since 1955,” his son Greg Tanbara told The News Tribune. The former pediatrician died July 1 after 95 years of life, but the work he started in Tacoma continues to reach across the South Sound, just as it had since he (kind of) handed over the reins nearly 10 years ago.... |
 Date of Death: Jun 29, 2016 Richard Frank Barronian ("Dick") MD was born May 7, 1918 in Chelsea, Massachusetts to Armenian immigrants, Nishan and Florence Barronian who fled the Armenian Genocide. His father died when he was very young, yet without a role model, he became a wonderful father to 5 children. He passed away June 29, 2016 at age 98. Dick served in WWII as a forward observer and air observer with the armored field artillery battalion in Italy, France, Germany, Central Europe, and North Africa. He survived malaria, a broken arm suffered in a plane crash, and being shot by a German officer while being held prisoner. The bullet shattered his femur requiring surgery and months in a body cast. He achieved the rank of Captain and was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and WWII victory medals.... |
 Date of Death: Jun 6, 2016 Vernon O. Larson MD passed away on June 6th at the age of 88, the son of Oscar and Elvera Larson. His early education was in a one-room schoolhouse in Rathdrum, Idaho. He studied pre-med at Washington State, putting himself through school by logging in northern Idaho. He then attended school at the University of Washington. He was drafted into the military, and sent out to sea as the ship's doctor, yet the only person who got seasick while at sea was the doctor. He did his residency in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and Medical Center in New York City. He returned to the Pacific Northwest to practice radiology, and formed a partnership with Dr. Kenneth Gross, which later became Diagnostic Imaging Northwest.... |
 Date of Death: May 27, 2016 Barbara Guller, pediatric cardiologist, retired colonel, dear sister, sister-in-law, aunt, grand aunt, godmother and friend, has left us with dignity and a smile on her lips. Barbara led a life of love, laughter and kindness, a life on her own terms. She showed us her strong mind and vibrant spirit. In her final years, with her body and her memory almost failing her, she steadfastly and methodically thought things through. She kept her dignity and undeniable sense of humor to the last of her days. We shall keep her beautiful, vivid memory.... |
 Date of Death: Sep 20, 2015 John N. Wettlaufer, M.D. Dr. John Nichols Wettlaufer, a pioneer in military trauma surgery who translated his skills across disciplines into cancer research, passed away from complications due to pneumonia on 20 September 2015 in Gig Harbor, Washington. Born June 9, 1930, in Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Wettlaufer was raised with seven siblings. Following undergraduate studies at Bates College in 1952, he "played up" with the Boston Red Sox, but forwent a baseball career to enlist in the Army, doing research in cryogenic injuries, at Fort Knox. In 1958 Dr. Wettlaufer received his M.D. with honors from Georgetown University with a prescient Gold Medal in Oncology, which was to act as an intellectual rostrum for his later academic career.... |
 Date of Death: Sep 14, 2015 Glen Harlow Aasheim, MD (retired) Passed away peacefully on September 14, 2015. He was born July 12, 1941 to Magnus and Velma Aasheim. Growing up on the family farm near Antelope, MT, he loved sports, piano, singing, and baking. He was an Eagle Scout who graduated Valedictorian of Antelope High School in 1959. At the University of Montana he met and fell in love with Linda "Kemmie" Kammerzell. They married in June 1964. After medical school, enlisting in the Army, and completing his medical residency at Ft. Lewis, Glen and Kemmie settled in Tacoma, raising three sons and where Glen spent 28 years as an OB-Gyn. He recognized his great fortune delivering so many beautiful babies into the world.... |
 Date of Death: Apr 20, 2015 James P. Duffy, M.D. September 8, 1923 April 20, 2015 A Sumner family physician and civic leader who practiced medicine in the Puyallup Valley for half a century---and often told friends and family he had been blessed with "an unbelievable life"---died this week at the age of 91. James Patrick Duffy tended to the medical needs of legions of local families beginning back in 1952, when he became Sumner's third doctor, and continuing unabated through 2003 when, at age 80, he retired from active practice. He was particularly proud of the fact that he delivered more than 2,500 babies during his long and distinguished career, and that he served as team physician for Sumner High School's football team for 42 years, cheering the Spartans to two state championships along the way.... |
 Date of Death: Mar 8, 2015 Dr. Paul Alpheus Swinehart, Jr. Age 63, died at his home in Northeast Tacoma on Sunday, March 8, 2015 from causes related to cancer. Born January 19, 1952 in Spokane, WA to Dr. Paul Alpheus Swinehart, Sr. and Genevieve Louise Swinehart (n‚e Hulteen), Paul is preceded in death by his parents, brother Samuel Dorsey Swinehart of Kirkland, WA, and brother Donald Swinehart of Sumas, WA. In Spokane, Paul attended Ferris High School, during which time he earned his Eagle Scout award. He completed undergraduate studies at Washington State University, medical school at Creighton University, and anesthesia residency at the University of Washington Medical Center. Dr. Swinehart practiced anesthesia for 28 years with Tacoma Anesthesia Associates.... |
 Date of Death: Feb 6, 2015 Dr. Edward Williams, MD, of Lakewood, Washington died February 6th, 2015 in his home of natural causes at the age of 62. He was born July 8th, 1952 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were Loretta B. Williams and Edward Williams Sr. also deceased. Dr. Edward Williams attended Harvard University, class of ’74, and then went on to medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine. He completed his training at John Hopkins. He touched the hearts of many and worked relentless hours to help high school students achieve their college dreams as well. He also served in the Harvard Interview Committee for Washington State. Dr. Williams was an avid golfer and enjoyed traveling the world.... |
 Date of Death: Feb 2, 2015 James Watson Boudwin, MD On Monday, February 2, 2015, James Watson Boudwin, MD died of natural causes with his beloved wife of 62 years, Lilian Margot Boudwin, at his side, after a full life of 97 years. James ("Jim") Watson Boudwin, BA, MD, F.A.P.A., was born in Seattle, WA, April 28, 1917. His father was Charles Bacon Boudwin, MD, a physician in West Seattle and his mother, Abigail Coombs, a nurse at Seattle General Hospital. Jim's grade school years were spent in Hollywood, CA where he appeared in a number of the silent era movies including the Hal Roach, "Our Gang" short series. He returned to Seattle from 1930 to 1934 attending TT Minor Elementary School and Roosevelt High School; then back to California where he graduated from Hollywood High School in 1936.... |
 Date of Death: Dec 17, 2014 Matthew White MD Gone Fishin' Dr. White passed away on December 17, 2014 after a gallant battle against cancer. Dr. White was a private practicing physician in Pierce County for 36 years and was a founding member of NPN since its inception in 1995. As a private practitioner, he provided physician leadership within Physician Care NW, Northwest Physicians Network, Franciscan Health System and the Rainier Health Network. Dr. White was a testament to the value private practitioners bring to the people of their communities and he will be sorely missed by all! Prior to Dr. White's death, he expressed his desire to have his legacy and practice thrive by continuing to provide the high quality care that his patients have trusted and come to expect. Source: The News Tribune, 3/11/15... |
 Date of Death: Dec 14, 2014 G. James Kenney, M.D. George James "Jim" Kenney Jr., a retired radiologist and accomplished photographer, died unexpectedly on Sunday, December 14 at his home in the Rosedale area of Gig Harbor. He was 79 years old and a lifelong resident of the area. Jim was born on July 9, 1935 in Tacoma to George J. Kenney, Sr. - himself a Tacoma native, and operator of an independent milk route - and Marion Elizabeth Andersen Kenney, the daughter of Danish immigrants on Anderson Island, WA. In the 1930s, Jim's father bought property on Wollochet Bay, near Point Fosdick.... |
 Date of Death: Oct 18, 2014 Eileen Rose Toth Born October 18th, 1946, passed away peacefully on October 18th, 2014 after a brave fight with metastatic breast cancer. Eileen is survived by her daughters Amy Atkinson (Colin) and Katherine Murto (Justin); brothers Thomas Toth (Dorothy) and Richard Toth (Susan). Eileen was also blessed to have six grandchildren; Isabella, Sophia, Ava, Olivia, Theodore, and Franklin. Eileen is also survived by her husband Hari Alipuria, her partner of 15 years, who she had the joy to marry this past March. Eileen is preceded in death by her loving late husband Patrick Murto, who also lost his battle with cancer in 1998. Eileen was born in Phillipsburg, NJ to Lester and Rose Toth. She attended Phillipsburg High School and was her class valedictorian.... |
 Date of Death: Aug 3, 2014 Pat Flynn of Tacoma is known as the mother of Relay For Life, which means most people know Dr. Gordon Klatt as the father of the event. But Flynn says that doesn’t do him justice. “He was way more than that ...” she said. “There is only one founder in the world of Relay For Life, and that is Gordy Klatt.” “Gordy Klatt,” she said, “changed the face of the fight against cancer forever.” The Tacoma surgeon died at age 71 Sunday, his family said, following a recent struggle with a heart condition.... |
 Date of Death: Jul 3, 2014 Jerome P. Rao, M.D. Jerry was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 6, 1947 to Joseph and Alice Rao. He grew up in Brooklyn, graduating from Xaverian High School. After graduating from NYU, he continued his lifelong ambition of being a surgeon and received his medical degree from the University of Rome, Italy. Jerry married Candy Smythe, from Washington State, in 1973. He did his internship in Brooklyn at Lutheran Medical Center and his Residency in Urology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan. They and their two children, Joe and Angela, moved to Federal Way, Washington in 1982, where he began his practice as a Urologic Surgeon. The practice grew to include an office at Allenmore Medical Center in Tacoma. Jerry retired in 2012 and planned to garden and relax.... |
 Date of Death: May 6, 2014 Darwin A. Marlatt, M.D. Darwin was born in Corning, Iowa and passed away on May 6, 2014 at age 89. He attended Creighton University in Omaha Nebraska. He interrupted his college education and entered the Army at age 18 during WWII and served proudly in the 82nd Airborne Paratroopers, 504th Regiment in Europe. After the end of the war he served six months in Berlin as an honor guard assigned to peacekeeping. He returned home in 1946. Darwin married Janet, his childhood sweetheart, in 1950. He received his MD degree in 1951 and they moved to the Pacific Northwest where Darwin started his general medicine practice in Tacoma, Washington. He owned his practice for 37 years and was involved in many organizations including St. Joseph Hospital and Sisters of St.... |
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Date of Death: Feb 20, 2014 Tacoma physician brought scoliosis treatment to town Robert Florence was too humble to share stories of his Tacoma-based medical career, his family says, but he had an excellent memory for his patients and procedures. “He didn’t like to talk much about his accomplishments” daughter Judy Florence said. “But when we have been out and about, people have said, ‘You operated on my son, my daughter, myself’ He very often remembered them.” The former orthopedic surgeon died of natural causes Feb. 20 in Tacoma. He was 96. Florence is credited with helping start a screening regimen for scoliosis in Tacoma Public Schools, training nurses to examine students’ spines The ailment was one he decided to focus on in the 1950s, his daughter said.... |
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Date of Death: Feb 4, 2014 Buel L. Sever, MD a.k.a. Doc Sever, died peacefully in his home in University Place at age 95 on February 4, 2014. He was a pioneer in many ways. Making house calls in Fircrest and letting people know he was the new doc in town in the early 1050s wasn’t easy, but his private practice as a G.P., who also performed general surgery, and who delivered babies for multiple generations, grew throughout the years. Buel practiced in Pullman, Europe during WWII, Tillicum, and finally in Fircrest for 35 years, with privileges at all Tacoma area hospitals. He retired in 1987, yet remained interested in medicine and remained a long-time member of Pierce County Medical Society and a supporter of University of Chicago Medical School and Washington State University.... |