Suchat "Albert" Pusavat

Suchat "Albert" Pusavat was born May 3, 1933 in Thung Song, Thailand. His father's dream was for future generations to obtain higher education, and Albert worked hard to fulfill that dream. He was an excellent student, attending the prestigious Chung Ling High School in Penang, Malaysia. He also had a passion for sports cars and motorcycles. Albert journeyed to America to pursue his education. He did undergraduate work at Northern Michigan University and UC Berkeley, but was most fond of his time at Pacific Union College. He was an outstanding college athlete, at one point achieving a national player ranking in badminton. He moved to Southern California, where he obtained his medical degree from Loma Linda University. He completed his internship through USC at Los Angeles County General Hospital and his residency through UCLA at Harbor General Hospital. After residency, he worked briefly for Centinela Hospital before joining Kaiser Permanente, where he would work as an Internist and Hematologist for the next fifty years. Albert had a reputation for building warm, personal relationships with everyone he encountered including hospital staff and patients. His commitment to service led him to continue to make house calls for elderly and disabled patients into the 1980s. Albert married Anne Cookston in 1964, and they had three children: Keith, Kevin, and Andrea. He instilled his children with a deep respect for higher education, and was proud to see them become an attorney, a doctor, and a professor/psychologist. He had a lifelong passion for the martial arts. He began studying Muay Thai as a young man in Thailand. He earned a black belt in Tang Soo Do karate in his forties, and he spent many years training in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, even into his sixties. He built his own workout studio on an enclosed patio at his home. He enjoyed teaching martial arts there for decades, developing many lifelong friendships with his students, instructors, and workout partners. Albert formally retired in 1997, but returned to work part time performing bone marrow biopsies in the Hematology/Oncology Department at Kaiser Permanente. In 2009, he married Dr. Diana Durham. In his last decade they traveled the world together, enjoying cruises and spending time with friends at the farmer's market. Albert treasured time in his final years with his beloved grandchildren. Albert passed away on January 10, 2018, from complications relating to pneumonia. He was surrounded by his family at Kaiser Hospital in Harbor City, where he had devoted fifty years of his life to caring for others. Albert is survived by his wife, Diana; his children, Keith, Kevin, and Andi; his stepdaughter, Andrea Abrams; his daughters-in-law, Sue and Melissa; and his four grandchildren, Cara, Emma, Kyle, and Jason. There will be a viewing on Saturday, January 27th from 5:00 to 9:00 PM at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, located at 27501 S. Western Avenue. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 28th at 3:00 PM at Rolling Hills Seventh Day Adventist Church in Rolling Hills Estates, located at 28340 Highridge Road. Sign guestbook at dailybreeze.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Daily Breeze on Jan. 21, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Suchat Pusavat

Sponsored by Daily Breeze.

11 Entries

Merle Clark

February 3, 2018

Al married my wife's cousin,Diana. During their visits to her home state, Kentucky, it was my good fortunate to get to know Al. What a wonderful personality he had. He seemed always cheerful. He was a Lakers fan and even brought me Lakers tee shirt.
Our best wishes to Al's family at this time of loss. Merle Clark.

Estrada Family

February 1, 2018

Dr Pusavat was our family doctor from Kaiser. My mother, Ofelia (Nina) Estrada may she rest in peace, worked for Dr Pusavat for many years at Kaiser. He always asked my mother how her children were doing. He was a good man and Doctor. May he rest in peace and enjoy my mother's company at the Kaiser in Heaven.

Andy Choong

January 27, 2018

Thank you Uncle Albert for all that you have given us. We love you always and you will always live in us.

Linda Gallareto

January 26, 2018

Dr. Pusavat will be deeply missed. His infectious smile and laughter were an everyday treat.
He treated us Nurses like Princesses and was very kind and helpful to all his patients.
May all the joyous memories give Peace to your family. Rest in Paradise Dr. Pusavat, you are loved.

a loved one

Sent Flowers

Anthony Leone

Sent Flowers

January 25, 2018

No question about him being one of a kind and no other! Albert was a man of many hobbies. I understand he loved cars and badminton. I can add a bird story to his hobby list. Once he raised a mynah bird, which can imitate sounds and talk. Soon after he left the bird with a bird caretaker, asking him to keep it until he returns. He never went back to claim it. One day his younger brother was walking around one of those flea markets. One salesman called out and stopped the brother, saying "hey, are you finally back to claim your bird?" His brother did not recognize the salesman, who has mistaken him for his big brother the bird owner. The salesman complained, "this bird can say only one thing "ko chan." I tried to get rid of it, but no one wants to buy it. Now you take it back.." His brother had to give the salesman a lump sum of money and took the bird home. "Ko- chan" was Albert's Chinese kinship name. The bird learned to call his name, as he often heard "ko chan." In order to make the bird talk it has to hear words, phrases, sounds, repeatedly. I can easily imagine how the bird heard "ko chan," as Albert was gone out of the house for his pleasurable hobbies and fun outings and his family looked for him, calling his name. or maybe he patiently taught the bird his name so that the bird can call him "ko-chan" all the time. No we would not know what happened the bird, as both brother are gone. Maybe they met up there and are exchanging stories. Both of brothers were quite a story teller.

Judy

January 23, 2018

Dr. Pusavat was not only a colleague but a generous friend to me & all who worked with him. Age did not stop him from learning & his pursuit of education. Many of us nurses & doctors attended extracurricular educational lectures & research with him.
When I ran into him locally at the market he would say Are you still working? I'd reply Yes, just as you are! We'd both laugh & proceed to talk about our grandchildren.
He had a wonderful sense of humor & personality. One of a kind!!

January 22, 2018

Dear Family of Dr. Al,

Fred and I are neighbors of Al and were patients of his at Kaiser Harbor City. He was a wonderful doctor for us and a special friend.I remember when he studied my file at home and came to my house to tell me the results.

He will be deeply missed.

Karen and Frederick B. Held

Eric & Linda Robins

January 21, 2018

Al was an outstanding physician, mentor and friend. His uplifting personality will be missed at Kaiser South Bay. On a personal note, I can still remember my first day in jiu jitsu class when he sat on my chest and pinned me down and I couldn't get him off. Linda fondly remembers visiting with him at the Farmer's Market on Sundays, or running into him at the Carpenter's house. May his memory serve as a blessing. He was one of a kind !!

Karen

January 21, 2018

To the family of Suchat Pusavat, please accept my condolences. May you find comfort knowing that those who died, God keeps them in his memory. At Psalms 116:15 they are precious in his eyes.

Showing 1 - 11 of 11 results