In Memoriam

Harry Sherman Holcomb III

 

Harry Sherman Holcomb III died on September 19, 2013 at his home in Franktown, VA. 

     

     His roommate Ron Sampson remembers Harry as follows: Harry’s medical career was remarkably adventuresome, including work at a mission hospital in Ghana and volunteer medical work in Mexico.  I was always impressed by his naval service as the only doctor at the U.S. research station at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, including several months during which the base was entirely cut off from the outside world.  Harry established a practice as an orthopedic surgeon on Virginia's Eastern Shore, a perfect place for him given his great love of the sea and sailing.

 After 20 years he gave up his local practice and concentrated on ‘locum tenens’ work, endeavoring as often as possible to be in places with access to water and sailing.  The last several years he became extraordinarily active in local affairs on the Eastern Shore, especially history-related.  He was a much beloved and admired figure.  Once fully retired from medicine and when not otherwise engaged in community activities, he continued to enjoy sailing and traveling the world with his wife Nancy.      

“You don’t room with the same guy for three years unless he's fun to be with, decent, and respectful of others, all of which Harry was in spades.  His principal activity at Yale was as a Deacon at Battell.  Mostly he worked very hard as a History major, while at the same time struggling, as did many, with the science courses necessary to obtain admission to Yale Medical School."

“Harry looked and sounded fine at our 50th Reunion, which I’m glad to say he enjoyed very much.  Apparently he had already been diagnosed with the blood disease which ultimately took his life, but it was not expected to be so fast-acting.  As I mourn Harry, I think of his life as one exceptionally well lived, with earnest dedication to profession, community and family."