Dr. Hyman Tolmas dies in Dallas; funeral held there

HYMAN TOLMAS, M.D., a retired pediatrician who was considered an authority in the subfield of Adolescent Medicine, died after a short illness on Wednesday, November 11, in Dallas, TX.

A New Orleans native, Tolmas enrolled in the undergraduate program at Tulane University and graduated from its School of Medicine in 1945. He was a board certified pediatrician (FAAP) and a member of the American Board of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society for Adolescent Medicine. He maintained a successful practice for 55 years, largely centered in Metairie. Dr. Tolmas was associated with Tulane-Lakeside Hospital, East Jefferson General Hospital and Children’s Hospital. He was also on the admissions committee for Tulane University and taught at both Tulane and LSU Medical Schools.

Dr. Tolmas was a founder of the Greater New Orleans Pediatric Society and received the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tulane Medical Alumni Association. He also received a community service award from the Section on Adolescent Health of the American Academy of Pediatrics and was presented with the 2004 Spirit of Charity Award, given to a physician who had trained at Charity Hospital, by the Medical Center of Louisiana Foundation.

He was active in a number of local community organizations and was a past president of Congregation Anshe Sfard, the last Orthodox synagogue located in Orleans Parish.

After Hurricane Katrina, Tolmas moved to Dallas to be closer to his other family members, who were living there. He became a member of Congregation Tifereth Israel “almost as soon as the plane landed,” according to Rabbi Shawn Zell, the spiritual leader there. Zell stated that Tolmas had received dozens of honors for his generosity and philanthropy there.

Tolmas was honored as recently as this past Sunday in Dallas at the Bnai Zion Foundation reception with the Distinguished Humanitarian Award. The Tolmas family was singled out for recognition by the Jewish Children’s Regional Service at its 2014 major fundraiser, “The Jewish Roots of Broadway” at the National World War II Museum.

Tolmas is survived by his wife of many years Connie, his daughter Jeanie Tolmas, M.D., his son Alan Tolmas (Gina) and two granddaughters, all of Dallas.

A funeral service conducted by Rabbi Zell was held at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 15, at Congregation Tiferet Israel in Dallas. Burial followed immediately at Sparkman Hillcrest Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Tiferet Israel, 10909 Hillcrest Road, Dallas, TX 75230; the Bnai Zion Foundation, 7920 Belt Line Rd., Suite 695, Dallas, TX 75254, the Jewish Childrens’ Regional Service or Jewish War Veterans Post 256 c/o Art Kaplan, 1109 Hillsdale, Richardson, TX 75081.