Russell Thomas

In these pages, one often reads about how someone has had a courageous battle with some disease or another. This was incredible. In 2000, he put himself on a ventilator to give his lungs the time they needed to drain. In 2005, he underwent surgery when the anesthesiologists were afraid to put him under as it was his only long term hope. In 2009, he stoically went to the hospital to have his jaw removed as that was the surest way to kill his oral cancer. After relearning to eat and speak, he dealt with bladder cancer, skin cancer, hemolytic anemia, renal disease, coronary artery disease and two broken bones. When pneumonia left him unable to breathe a few weeks ago, he requested that he be put on the vent for the fourth time in his life. When his family finally gave up on him, he kept fighting. Had it not been for a large shot of Versed in the last 5 minutes of his life, he might still be fighting. When it was over, his entire body was bloody and bruised, as if he had just been dragged from battle, which in a very real sense he had been.

Dr. Thomas was born on October 18, 1932 in Akron, Ohio, the son of the Honorable Russell W. Thomas and his wife, Pauline. He attended school in Cuyahoga Falls, excelling in baseball and basketball. He went to Mount Union for college followed by The Ohio State University Medical School where he graduated with honors. Upon graduation, he bounced around the South China Sea as a lieutenant in the United States Navy. After being honorably discharged, he went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota to train to be a neurosurgeon.

He began his neurosurgical career in Akron in 1966 entering into partnership with Dr. Everett Hurteau. After Dr. Hurteau retired, the practice continued to grow and was the predecessor firm to both The Center of Neuro and Spine and Neurology and Neuroscience Associates where collectively 20 neurosurgeons and neurologists currently practice. In 1981 he was the President of the Ohio State Neurosurgical Society. Not only was he a gifted surgeon but he truly cared for his patients. Quite often his children would be thanked by strangers for having their life saved by their father and far too often they would see their father with tears in his eyes because nothing could be done for someone he had seen that day.

After medicine, his other great passion was golf where he would regularly give his friends, Percy, George, Herb, Mark, Job and Tom unmerciful beatings (sorry guys, he gets the last laugh). His only true regret in life was that his son was such a terrible golfer.

He is survived by his children, Pam, Jeff, Alexis, George and Max; special friend, Claire and her children Mick, Mark and Stephanie; his brother, Dave; his dining friends, Julie, Sheri and Ilena. They will all miss him greatly.

Calling hours will be at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road, from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. A private burial will be held Wednesday. A party in Dr. Thomas' honor will be held Friday at the family residence beginning at 7 p.m. All friends of the family are welcome. Please be forewarned: All guests will be asked to have a shot of cheap scotch in Dr. Thomas' honor.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Alpha Excel Foundation, 50 South Main Street, Suite #1210 Akron, Ohio 44308. All funds raised will be used for the benefit of neurosurgical patients in Akron, Ohio. Dig deep guys, this is important to the family. You will be notified as to exactly how your money is spent.