Dr. Sam Threefoot, Jr. funeral set for today
DR. SAM ABRAHAM THREEFOOT, JR, M.D., a professor emeritus of medicine at Tulane School of Medicine, died April 25, 2015. He was 94 years old.
A medical educator and researcher, Dr. Threefoot was involved in medical research for over four decades, publishing over 150 papers, book chapters, abstracts and presentations of isotopic tracers of body fluids and electrolytes and on the anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system. He also published three non-scientific books. He participated in the development of medical school curricula and in the development and planning of six buildings for research facilities and hospitals. He was a founding member of the International Society of Lymphology.
Dr. Threefoot was a member of the American College of Physicians, the American Federation of Clinical Research, the Central Society for Clinical Research, the Society of Nuclear Medicine, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Microcirculatory Society, the New York Academy of Sciences, and Sigma Xi, the non-profit scientific research society.
He served on committees, boards and as an officer of many professional organizations including serving on the Board of Governors as governor for Louisiana of the American College of Cardiology, president of the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation, vice president of the American Heart Association and chairman of the Council on Circulation. He was also the president of the Louisiana Heart Association, the president of the National Association of Veterans Administration Chiefs of Staff and a member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Heart Association. Additionally, Dr. Threefoot was on the Editorial Board of Lymphology at Tulane School of Medicine.
He received the Honors Achievement Award from the Angiology Research Foundation, the Award of Merit from the American Heart Association and special recognition from the Louisiana Regional Medical Program. Dr. Threefoot was a devoted supporter of Tulane athletics.
Threefoot was born in Meridian, MS., but lived most of his life in New Orleans. Upon graduating from High School in Selma, AL., where he was president of the 1938 senior class, he entered Tulane University on an honors scholarship to the College of Arts and Sciences. He was a member of Zeta Beta Tau, Beta Mu and Phi Beta Kappa. While attending Tulane Medical School during WWII, he was on active duty in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). Upon receiving his M.D., Dr. Threefoot served his internship in 1945-47 at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. He returned to a fellowship in the Department of Medicine at Tulane where he remained as a teacher involved in research, from 1947-1970 advancing to a full professorship. From 1953-1970 he was also director of Research and Medical Education at Touro Infirmary. From 1970-1976 he was Chief of Staff at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Augusta, GA. and professor of Medicine and assistant dean at the Medical College of Georgia.
He returned to New Orleans in 1976 as associate chief of research at the V.A. Medical Center and professor of Medicine at Tulane. In 1979 he became chief of staff at the V.A. Medical Center and assistant dean at Tulane and professor of Medicine at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine until his retirement in 1991. He was also on the staffs of Charity Hospital and Tulane Medical Center Hospital.
After his retirement, he participated as a volunteer adjunct professor emeritus of Applied Health Science in the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
Dr. Threefoot was predeceased by his wife of many years, Virginia Rush Threefoot. He is survived by his four daughters Barbara Stockton Mattingly (Fred) of Covington, Ginny Threefoot (Jim Lindberg) of Denver, CO., Tracy Threefoot Esenstad (Alan) of Rockville, MD., and Shelley Threefoot Cowan of Atlanta; his brother, Dr. Henry K. Threefoot of River Ridge; and seven grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at Temple Sinai, 6227 St. Charles Avenue with visitation beginning at 2:00 p.m. Rabbi Edward Paul Cohn will officiate. Private family burial will follow in Hebrew Rest Cemetery III.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Temple Sinai, Temple Mishkan Israel Foundation in Selma, AL., Tulane University or Touro Infirmary Foundation. Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home of Metairie is in charge of arrangements. Information 504-835-2341. Condolences may be expressed online here.
