If you’ve ever walked down the Radiology hallway at St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital, you’ve undoubtedly seen them. You might have even wondered out loud about them.
They are five distinguished-looking gentlemen, all in various stages of balding or graying, who stare back at visitors from a series of reverential portraits. It’s obvious from the portraits’ prominent positioning, as well as the brass inscriptions attached to each, that each man was important, beloved or both – but who are they?
They are the Five Old Men of St. Tammany Health System, and each had a part to play in its long history.
As part of our ongoing 70 for 70 history project, we spotlighted Dr. H.E. Gautreaux in January.
Today, we introduce you to another of them: Dr. Thomas James Healy, who joined the health system upon its founding and who served as its chief of staff from 1960 to 1961.
Installment No. 30: ‘Spoke only a little and smiled a lot’
Today’s artifact: A portrait of Dr. Thomas James Healy painted by artist Marilyn Carter Rougelot in recognition of Dr. Healy’s years of service to St. Tammany Parish Hospital.
Why they are significant: It’s been 31 years since Dr. Thomas Healy passed away in 1993 following an illustrious career as a local physician, but his legacy at St. Tammany Health System is very much alive, in the form of two descendants – a granddaughter and great-granddaughter – who work at the hospital today.
Medicine was an early calling for the New Orleans native and graduate of Jesuit High School, who entered Loyola University at the tender age of 15 before transferring mid-term to Tulane to study medicine.
After receiving his medical degree in 1935, he interned at Hôtel-Dieu and worked for a time in Thibodaux before moving to Covington to start a practice – and raise a family – in 1954.
Described as a man who “spoke only a little and smiled a lot,” he started each day by attending Mass at St. Peter Catholic Church. Don’t think that means he wasn’t tough when he needed to be, though.
During World War II, he joined the U.S. Army and served as company commander of a medical battalion for 22 months in the European theater. According to his Times-Picayune obituary, he led a M.A.S.H. unit on the beaches of Normandy and was awarded a bronze star and five combat stars by the time of his discharge in December 1945.
A charter staffer at St. Tammany Health System, he would serve as its chief of staff from 1960 to 1961. In 1970, he succeeded Dr. H.E. Gautreaux as parish coroner and was re-elected to the post four times, retiring from it in 1987.
He continued his Covington medical practice, however, until 1992. A month after closing it, he died.
Do you have a St. Tammany Parish Hospital story or item to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email us at CommDept@stph.org.
Next week – Installment No. 31: Tally-ho!
Last week – Installment No. 29: Meet Great Aunt Emmy