Thomas E. Lavell MD, 77 of Walton passed away Sunday evening at Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown, after a sudden illness.

Dr. Lavell was born in New York City, on June 2, 1928 the son of the late Thomas and Kathleen MacDonald Lavell Sr. Dr. Lavell married Jeanne Hoeko on April 23, 1988 in Walton. He served his country as a lieutenant in the Navy as a flight surgeon, from 1954-57

Dr Lavell was a graduate of Cornell University with a BA, New York University Medical School, with an MD, and Russell Sage Graduate School with an MS in Public Administration. He interned at St. Vincent's Hospital, NYC, US Navy School of Aviation Medicine, residency in Family Practice at the University of Colorado, and a resident of general surgery at the University of Vermont. He was licensed as a medical doctor in New York State, a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners, a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr Lavell was presently a field representative for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, a board of trustee member of O'Conner Hospital, Delhi; American Cancer Society, Eastern Division, and past president of the New York State Division; past president of Health Systems Agency of Northeast New York, a past member of the Bassett Healthcare Domestic Violence Research Project; past Medical Director of Margaretville Hospital, Delaware Valley Hospital, and Delaware County Medical Services. He was former interim President and CEO of Delaware Valley Hospital, consultant, New York State Dept. of Health Office of Professional Medical Conduct, and a member of the Medical Advisory Committee of the Planned Parenthood of Delaware and Otsego Counties. He was a member of the American College of Surgeons, the Medical Society of the State of New York, and the Society of US Naval Flight Surgeons. Dr Lavell was also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, State University of New York Upstate Health Science Center, and an Adjunct Faculty, Health Administration, Russell Sage Graduate School. Dr Lavell loved to teach and mentor students. He also loved to provide medical care to indigent people in Malawi, Central Africa, and at USPHS Indian Service Hospitals serving the Navaho and Sioux-Arapaho peoples. He was once described by one of his colleages as an "incredible healer".

He is survived by his wife: Jeanne Lavell, three sons: Thomas E. Lavell III of Frankfurt, Germany; Christopher Lavell and his wife Cindy of Goshen; Patrick Lavell and his wife Sarah of Rochester; his daughter Melissa Whipple and children, of Middletown; 2 step-children, Brooke Taber of Burlington, VT, and Tye Taber of Salt Lake City, UT; 6 grandchildren, Michael, Emily, Justin Thomas, Alex, Margot, and Camille , 3 cousins, Jim Murphy of Nevada, and Bill Murphy of Idaho, and Melissa Murphy of Montana.

Friends and relatives are invited to call Thursday, September 29, 2005 from 2 - 4 and 6 - 8 PM at the Clark, Winter & Courtney Funeral Home, 25 Townsend St, Walton where services will be held at 8:00 pm with the Rev. R.L. Donahue, officiating.

Contributionsin Dr. Lavell's memory may be made to Walton EMS, 59-61 West Street, Walton, NY 13856-, or Doctors without Borders, PO Box 1856, Merrifield, VA 22116-8056.