Wednesday, September 30, 2020
THOMAS A DALSASO 1936-2020 "Honour a physician with the honour due unto him" - ECCLESIASTICUS I first met Tom at a Rhinoplasty Course in Columbus Ohio in 1971. We were both embarking on careers in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. We both had received a Catholic education, Tom with the Jesuits and myself with the Christian Brothers. We both had four young children. We had a lot in common. This friendship endured for the rest of our lives. We met frequently, travelled a lot together, and enjoyed scientific meetings and our golf. Tom's last visit to Australia was in 2019. Tom Dalsaso was a wonderful human being. A great husband, a great father and a great friend. He was a learned, skilled, compassionate and understanding surgeon. I am fortunate that I have enjoyed this friendship for some 49 years. I am fortunate to have known this great human being and to be numbered among his friends. Tom Dalsaso, more than any person I know fulfils the view of Robert Luis Stevenson expressed in his "DEDICATION" THERE ARE MEN AND CLASSES OF MEN THAT STAND ABOVE THE COMMON HERD: THE SOLDIER, THE SAILOR AND THE SHEPHERD NOT UNFREQUENTLY; THE ARTIST RARELY; RARELY STILL, THE CLERGYMAN; THE PHYSICIAN ALMOST AS A RULE. HE IS THE FLOWER (SUCH AS IT IS) OF OUR CIVILISATION; AND WHEN THAT STAGE OF MAN IS DONE WITH, AND ONLY REMEMBERED TO BE MARVELED AT IN HISTORY, HE WILL BE THOUGHT TO HAVE SHARED AS LITTLE AS ANY IN THE DEFECTS OF THE PERIOD, AND MOST NOTABLY EXHIBITED THE VIRTUES OF THE RACE. GENEROSITY HE HAS, SUCH AS IS POSSIBLE TO THOSE WHO PRACTICE AN ART, NEVER TO THOSE WHO DRIVE A TRADE; DISCRETION, TESTED BY A HUNDRED SECRETS; TACT, TRIED IN A THOUSAND EMBARRASSMENTS; AND WHAT ARE MORE IMPORTANT, HERACLEAN CHEERFULNESS AND COURAGE. SO IT IS THAT HE BRINGS AIR AND CHEER INTO THE SICKROOM, AND OFTEN ENOUGH, THOUGH NOT SO OFTEN AS HE WISHES, BRINGS HEALING. Such a man was Doctor Thomas A Dalsaso William B Coman AM MD M.B.B.S. QLD. F.R.C.S. EDIN. F.R.C.S. ENG. F.R.A.C.S. ENG. HON. F.A.C.S. HON. EMERITUS PROFESSOR UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND OTOLARYNGOLOGY HEAD AND NECK SURGERY
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