Jack L. Titus
Jack L. Titus, 84, died June 15, 2011, in North Oaks, Minn., after a long illness.
He held a doctorate and also was a medical doctor.
He was born in South Bend, Ind., on Dec. 7, 1926.
He entered Notre Dame University at 16, then was called to serve as a sergeant in Germany during World War II. In 1948, he graduated from Notre Dame and entered medical school at Washington University.
He married Beverly J. Harden in 1949. After general practice in Rensselaer, Ind., he began his lifelong interest in cardiovascular pathology at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. He earned a doctorate in pathology at the University of Minnesota, joined the Mayo Graduate School faculty in 1961 and became a professor in 1972. He also was coordinator of the Pathology Training Programs.
As an academic physician, he achieved world-renowned status. He was recruited to head the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Pathology in Houston in 1972, concurrently appointed head of pathology at the Methodist Hospital and Harris County Hospital District and was senior pathology consultant for the Veterans Administration Hospital.
He published extensively, was active in many professional groups, was a visiting professor and lecturer on cardiac disease worldwide and served on the editorial boards of several medical journals.
He became director of the Jesse E. Edwards Registry of Cardiovascular Disease at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., in 1987; was professor of pathology at the University of Minnesota; and was adjunct professor at Baylor College of Medicine. He served on major research investigations and committees and received many distinguished achievement awards and honors including the Service to Humanity Award for the United Hospital Foundation in 2004, the year he retired.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years Beverly; sons Jack. L. Jr. and wife Marcie of Coon Rapids, Minn., Michael and wife Jennifer of Denver and Matthew of Beverly Hills, Calif.; daughters Betsy Engelbrecht and husband Piet of Marble Falls and Joan Davis and husband Kevin of College Station; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and sisters Carol Hollahan Tegel, Peggy L. Munson and Nancy Jo Johnson.
He was preceded in death by his siblings Robert N. Titus and Marianna Titus.
A service is 10:30 a.m. June 27 at Waverley Gardens-Presbyterian Homes in North Oaks, Minn.
Memorial contributions may be made to Baylor College of Medicine, Jack L. Titus Endowed Professorship in Pathology, c/o Office of Development and Advancement, ne Baylor Plaza, MS: BCM160, Houston, TX 77030 or to the Alzheimer’s Association.