Carl William Armstrong M.D.

ARMSTRONG, Carl William M.D., surrendered to the ravages of cancer on the evening of March 5, 2009 after a defiant seven year struggle for life. He had just celebrated his 59th birthday. Born February 25, 1950 in Geneva, Switzerland to American parents, he was the son of John I. Armstrong Jr. and Margaret A. Hollands. Left to carry on in his family include his father, John Armstrong; his brother, Alan Armstrong and his wife, Melody Armstrong; Barbara, his devoted wife (and tandem stoker) of more than 35 years; and his cherished children, daughters, Charis Armstrong Lyon and her husband, Keith Lyon, Amelia Armstrong Weinman and her husband, Jeremy Weinman; and his son, Matthew Carl Armstrong. Carl graduated from Kenyon College in 1971 and Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in 1975. He received his training in Internal Medicine at Tufts New England Medical Center, and decided early in his medical career that public health would be his focus. He was an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with the Center for Disease Control from 1978 to 1980 assigned to the Virginia Department of Health. After the conclusion of an Infectious Disease Fellowship at MCV in 1982, Carl began his career in public health as the Director of Health Hazards Control with the Virginia Department of Health. He later became a local health director for the Piedmont Health District in Farmville, a senior medical advisor for the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association and finally the Director of The Office of Epidemiology with the Virginia Department of Health. He led a distinguished commitment to public health throughout his life, a recipient of many awards and revered by his colleagues and co-workers as a man of integrity and sound judgment. Before his cancer diagnosis, Carl enjoyed competing in triathlons. He and Barbara have been long standing members of the Richmond Area Bicycling Association and Carl continued to ride with the club until October of 2008 in spite of the many challenges that faced him. He and Barbara particularly loved riding their tandem, aka "Blazing Saddles". He lived life to the fullest, was devoted to his family and was dedicated to his work in public health. A celebration of his life will be held in the auditorium of the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens at 10 a.m. April 11, 2009. RABA members who wish to attend are encouraged to ride from Laurel Park Shopping Center to the gardens. A ride notice will be posted in the April newsletter. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in Carl's memory to The Chris Desch Foundation, P.O. Box 8467, Richmond, Va. 23226, www.thechrisdeschfoundation.org.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.