Scott PASTOR

1960 - 2015

PASTOR, Scott SCOTT ALLAN PASTOR, MD 1960-2015 Scott Pastor's eager pursuit of knowledge, skills, interests, travels, hobbies and love for his family and friends was cut short too soon. Scott, gifted eye surgeon and versatile Renaissance man, died of cardio-pulmonary arrest at Piedmont Hospital on Monday, November 9 while his favorite rock music played in the background. He was 55. At a recent celebration of his life, more than 500 people gathered to remember him as kind, patient, brilliant, funny and determined-but most of all as the loving husband of Molly and devoted dad and role model to Tommy and Sam. As Tommy said, his dad "carried with him a sense of resilient optimism" and taught his boys to "eliminate the word 'can't'" from their vocabulary. "There was nothing one dimensional about my dad," he said. "This is because he did everything...and always gave Sam and me the freedom to explore and encouraged us to seek out new experiences." Sam said lessons from their dad included, "how to be a gentleman, execute a joke, tie my shoes, tie my tie, play every sport, be humble, get things done, write, laugh, love and learn. ...He is the father that I want to be..." Scott and Molly moved to Atlanta in 1997 when he joined the staff of Piedmont Hospital and Eye Consultants of Atlanta with a subspecialty in the medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma. He served on the board of Prevent Blindness Georgia for 10 years, four of them as co-chair. In 2010 Scott was named "The PBGA Volunteer of the Year" and received a Star Award for his service. The programs he helped build and expand for PBGA have become models for replication across the country. In 2012 PBGA was awarded with the inaugural Georgia Natural Gas True Blue Award, which was in support of the Georgia Retinal Imaging Project, founded by Dr. Pastor. He has been part of the National Eye Care Project for over 12 years, serving as chair of the Adult Vision Screening Committee. He has been a longtime member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Glaucoma Society and the Georgia Society of Ophthalmology. He also served on the Parents' Board of Bucknell University and was a member of the Piedmont Driving Club. Scott was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Jan. 29, 1960 to Jan and Stan Pastor. Growing up he showed an early interest in and aptitude for science, language, music-all of which developed into lifelong passions and accomplishments. He also played basketball, baseball and golf, was valedictorian of his high school class and was a stellar role model for his younger siblings. Scott graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity, with a master's of science. He received his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. During his internship, he'd leave his shift at the hospital-still dressed in blue scrubs, cap and latex gloves-to work at The Car Doctor on vintage Mustangs, including his own. He completed his residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio where he was Chief Resident, and he served as the ship's doctor for a year for Norwegian Cruise Lines before he earned the competitive and prestigious Robert N. Shaffer Glaucoma Fellowship at the University of California in San Francisco. It was here that he met Molly Power on a blind date that led to their lifelong courtship and devoted 25-year marriage. In addition to his medical education and expertise, Scott was self-taught in a multitude of pursuits ranging from fly fishing and cooking (he was particularly experimental at Thanksgiving), to being a tinkerer and do-it-yourselfer for almost anything, a better-than-millennials-techie and "mad scientist" (including owning three patents and co-creating one app) and a great shot when hunting birds. He learned his way around many cameras and multiple lenses and particularly enjoyed shooting travel pictures and his sons' Westminster games. With the help of Soccer for Dummies, he became an enthusiastic coach for his sons' teams. He loved the game of golf and his golfing buddies, yet even with all the right gear he never became more than a "streaky" player. As a young boy he taught himself to play the guitar and for years has been a dedicated member of The Macular Degenerates, singing and playing for parties and charity events. Scott was passionately addicted to indie bands and often shared playlists on trips no one had heard before. Scott was a fast and voracious reader of all things and was so knowledgeable in countless directions he often served as Google for the family. Molly, Tommy and Sam would turn to him first for any answer, advice, insight and comfort as well as motivation, inspiration, adventure and good times. His pride in Tommy and Sam knew no bounds, from their first soccer goals and dove hunts to their college acceptances and competitive rounds on the golf course, always trying to "beat Dad." In all of this it must be said that Scott was also humble and would not want so much attention focused on him at this time. It's impossible not to.
Scott was predeceased by his mother Janice Cohen Pastor. He is survived by his wife Molly Power Pastor, sons Thomas Reed (at Bucknell University) and Samuel Lawrence (Wake Forest); his father Dr. Stanley Pastor (Stephanie), sister Robin Pastor Kahn (Steve) of Atlanta and brother Andrew Pastor (Laura) of Austin, Texas. His in-laws-all of Kansas City-include Molly's parents, Paul and Grace Power and her siblings: Erin Power Murray (Jim), Tim Power (Donna Jane), Dave Power, Chip Power (Brenda) and Patrick Power. He will be missed by loving nieces and nephews: Max, Eli and Hale Pastor; Lily, Madelyn and Andrew Kahn; Alison, Emily, Jack and Grace Power; and Casey and Jonathan Chappas. His best friend and family mascot Sugar, a 5-year-old Golden Doodle, always at his heels, will miss him-and his shoes-terribly. Scott's crystal clear blue eyes were donated to the Georgia Eye Bank, and his ashes will be buried at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to: Prevent Blindness Georgia, 739 West Peachtree Street, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30308 or to The Westminster Schools, 1424 West Paces Ferry Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327.