Thayer Mackenzie Obituary

of Stillwater, Minnesota, Passed away June 24 , 2012 He was born on January 19, 1922, in New York City, to Dr. George M. Mackenzie, a physician at Columbia University hospital, and Eleanor Hobson, a nurse. His father organized the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, N.Y. Bassett Hospital is still cited, together with the Mayo Clinic, as a model of health care based on salaried rather than fee-for-service payment. He graduated from Milton Academy, Harvard College and the medical school of Johns Hopkins University, where he received his MD in 1947 and began a long advocacy for universal heath care. He interned at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, and married Carolyn Surratt in 1953, who survives him. He served as a physician in the U.S. Public Health Service in Fort Worth, Texas from 1953-57, then spent his career in Washington, D.C. with a practice in psychiatry, including over 45 years of service at the District of Columbia methadone clinic, Gallaudet University for the Deaf, St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Sibley Hospital, Deaf Reach, the State Department and the Peace Corps. After retiring in 2007, he moved to Stillwater to be close to his two surviving daughters, Elizabeth Hobson Bruvold and Susan Mackenzie Runge and his four grandchildren: Lynn, Colleen, Elizabeth (Liz) and Carlisle (Carl). He was preceded in death by his daughter, Louise Thayer Mackenzie. He had one great-grandchild, Lily. He is remembered as a proud, accomplished and compassionate physician, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to Doctors Without Borders and/or Bassett Health Care of Cooperstown, N.Y.

Published by Pioneer Press on Jun. 28, 2012.
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6 Entries

Joan Fugazzi

July 16, 2017

Dr. MacKenzie was one of the finest and most compassionate fellows I've ever known. I only regret that I did not get to see him again before he passed and I am finding out about it two years later.

Richard Frantz

July 2, 2014

Dr Mackenzie was a wonderfully kind man who helped this artist continue a most interesting life. There is a painting of him in his office that show him at work.

Joan Fugazzi

April 27, 2013

My dad was the most humble, patient, disciplined and self-sacrificing person I have ever known. He never once put an extra rasin in his daily oatmeal. His joy was serving others. Love You Dad! Betsy

Betsy Bruvold

January 25, 2013

Dr. Mackenzie trully saved my life from certain mental, physical and spiritual death when he became my Doctor in 2004. He remained my friend after his retirement, he wrote wonderful letters to me and my dog Quincy. He cared about people and there wellness, visiting patients in nursing homes or whereever they may be when they were not able to visit his office. He was the first Doctor to stop seeing me as my diagnoses and said "lets find out who Chris is"! God has always put the right people in my life to help me in this journey of life and Dr. Mackenzie saved mine. I am eternally grateful for his proffesional skills to help me and his kindness as a human being.

Christie Kefauver

September 27, 2012

What a blessing it was to spend several hours with your precious husband/father while he was in hospice. I loved his smile & big blue eyes! May you keep his great memories in your hearts forever.

Diane

July 3, 2012

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