Thomas L. Petty, MD

Thomas L. Petty, MD Pulmonary Physician Tom Petty was a special gift to his fellow man. Born in Boulder, CO on Christmas Eve, 1932, his life of sharing with others began. Self made in all respects, he embraced and encouraged those around him. His family including wife Carol, daughter Caryn (Jonathan) Winkler, sons Tom and John (Gina), 8 grandchildren and long time colleague and friend, Louise Nett, are greatly saddened by Tom's departure, on December 12, 2009, but relieved that his suffering is over. A mentor, educator, innovator, inventor, researcher, and prolific writer, all define his professional career, but it was his love and compassion for friends and patients that provided his gift of ""living each day"" which he shared with all. His sense of humor and joke telling brought warmth and understanding to the meaning of humanness. Tom's recognitions and accomplishments are so numerous that it requires a 54 page curriculum vitae to list them. He was head of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine from 1971 to 1983 and director of the Webb-Waring Lung Institute 1983 to 1988. For the next seven years he was the director of Academic and Research Affairs at Health One Center for Health Sciences Education and was Professor of Medicine Emeritus at National Jewish Medical and Research Center until his death. He chaired numerous national committees dealing with pulmonary and critical care medicine and was president of the American College of Chest Physicians 1981-1982, and elected a Master in both the ACCP and American College of Physicians, the highest honor that can be awarded a member. As a medical leader, he supported his students, residents, fellows and faculty by fostering an attitude of cooperation, encouragement and excellence, while never being judgmental. To Tom Petty, the opportunity to care for a patient was an honor, never a duty. His most recent publications ""Adventures of an Oxyphyle"" and ""From Both Ends of the Stethoscope"" describe in detail his experience being an oxygen patient, and are enlightening for both patients and physicians. Donations may be sent to: Colorado COPD Connection, 7035 S. Ash Circle, Centennial, CO 80122, or the Aspen Lung Conference, 1414 S. Lima St., Aurora, CO 80012-4127. Funeral services will be held at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 11150 E. Dartmouth Ave., Aurora, at 10:30 AM, Saturday, December 19, 2009. Thank you for sharing your memories of Tom by connecting with our guestbook link below.