Dr. Roy C. Sutton III
March 19, 1953 - Oct. 23, 2017
Resident of Menlo Park
Roy Clifton Sutton, III, MD, 64, went home after a courageous battle with cancer on October 23, 2017.
He was born at DePaul Hospital, Norfolk, VA on March 19, 1953 and graduated from Lake Taylor High School. He received a bachelors and masters in chemical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. His Medical Doctor degree was awarded from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia. At Stanford University he did a neurosurgery internship and residency. Here he also completed 2 years of neurosurgical research and published key articles about using carrier agents to deliver chemotherapy to brain tumors. At the University of Virginia, he completed a clinical and anatomical pathology residency and a neuropathology fellowship where he was a prestigious Rubinstein fellow.
His proudest professional achievements included the numerous awards he received from medical school classes where he taught pathology and neuropathology. More significant, his groundbreaking work set the stage for treating gliomas using medication carriers. He considered his greatest achievements those of using what God had blessed him with, being a devoted and loving husband and father, and saving many lives with his surgical skills and expertise.
He loved California and the Bay Area was where he left his heart. Jogging along the Stanford dish, through Rancho San Antonio and through the streets of San Francisco during the Bay to Breakers was one of his favorite activities. Studying physics and romantic languages were his lifelong pastimes.
We are all just passing time here on earth and we each occupy our chair very briefly. The time we had with Roy was a gift and we are all better that he occupied his chair so well.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon "Sherry" Sutton, a son, Patrick; a Masters of Fine Arts candidate at the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, a daughter, Summer; a Masters in English candidate at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA and a sister, Elyse Lemaire of Arlington, MA.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution via a check made payable to Stanford University, c/o Allie Gregorian, Stanford Medical Center Development, 3172 Porter Dr., Ste 210, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 at 2:30 pm at Alta Mesa Memorial Park, 695 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306.

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Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Nov. 1, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Roy Sutton

Sponsored by San Jose Mercury News.

11 Entries

Gretchen Kirsch

October 22, 2019

In May of 2018, five Hokies travelled to Blacksburg, to celebrate the life of their dear friend, Roy Sutton. It had been over 40 years since they had all been together in one place, but the friendships seemed to pick up right where they had left off. They walked and drove around their campus, and looked at photos from across the years, as well as sharing letters, cards, emails and even a few poems that Roy had written when he was at Virginia Tech. Many memories and stories were recalled of those carefree college days. All that was missing was the sixth person, Roy. Who knew when we all met at Tech that we would form bonds that would last a lifetime, and maybe even beyond that? I hope that Roy was looking down, smiling, and that he misses us as much as we will always miss him. We will never forget you. Love, Gretchen

Michael Hochella

October 19, 2019

Since Roy's passing, I seem to miss him more and more with time. Even though I live far from California, when I am in the Palo Alto area, I visit the site where he was laid to rest. It is such a wonderful place to remember the great friendship that we once had in life, and a sincere friendship that, in fact, continues to this day.

Arlene Tammaro

April 28, 2019

As a staff nurse working on the neurosurgery unit I met Roy who was one of the interns. He was so compassionate and good with the patients. We became friends and when he needed a place to stay for several weeks he stayed with my husband and I. My 29 yr old son is intered at Alta Mesa very near where Roy is. I had lost track of him so I was saddened to see he had passed away. He was a special person.

"Howie" Teeter

November 9, 2017

As I reflect back some 45 years on our good friend my heart may be sad but my memories are filled with such joy.just to have had the opportunity to know and befriend Roy. We all knew that Roy had the gift of being a genius but that wasn't what made him so important or endearing to all of us. For meit was his door. It was always open. Whatever was going on in his world would stop whenever you walked through his door. He was always there with a great story to make you laugh or a few riffs on his beloved Martin to cheer you up. Whether it was current events or physics he always had an opinion or a different way of approaching the topic that either made you scratch your head or shake it while grinning ear to ear. Either way you always went back to your dorm room smiling and looking forward to the next time you would get together. While a lot of my four years in engineering is a blurmy impromptu chats with Roy gave me cherished memories that will always stay with me.
Roy was an inspiration to me and the rest of us at Tech. He was a blessing and I trust that he rests peacefully in God's hands.

Gretchen Kirsch

November 8, 2017

Sometimes in this life, you meet a special person, and you just know that you will be friends forever. This happened to me in the fall of my freshman year at Virginia Tech, when a mutual friend introduced me to Roy, who was a senior. I am both privileged and humbled that he called me "friend" for 43 years. In Roy, I found the big brother that I always wanted, but never had. Roy was brilliant, and never seemed to need to study, and somehow had plenty of time to do "fun" things, such as attending a Doobie Brothers concert, tossing a baseball around outside the dorm, or spending the day before taking his MCATs with me at Lakeside Amusement Park. He later said that he was so tired from running around the Park all day that he slept really well that night, and obviously aced the exam, and got into med school. When I was pledging my sorority, he bought me a stuffed animal in Phi Mu colors. He wrote me a poem when I received the sad news from home that my dog had died, and he tutored me in both Chemistry and Genetics, because unlike Roy, I had to study! His decision to attend grad school at Tech meant that he was there to volunteer to take me to my Ring Dance when I didn't have a date, and he bought me my first corsage for that event. No one was happier for Roy that I when he got his MD, met and married Sherry, and started a family. I though he truly had it all. Roy never flaunted his gift of great intelligence, he just used it all his life to help others. Roy was kind and caring, loving and generous, brilliant but humble, and a real Southern gentleman. I hope that he knew how much he meant, not only to me, but to all of his Hokie buddies, because we could not have asked for a finer friend. May God rest you, Roy, you truly were one of a kind, and we will never forget you.

David Coogan

November 4, 2017

I had been away on an extended trip to Canada and only learned of Roys passing after I returned. I knew Roy back in my college days when we near each other in the dorm and later as roommates in an apartment shared with Mike Hochella. The picture entered here for Roy is exactly as I remember him. It made me think back on those days. I recall that of all the people I ever met in my life that Roy was the only person I believed to be an absolute genius. He had a down to earth demeanor and a heart of gold. I remember especially his great wit. I'll never forget how he lampooned the Claudine Longet/Jean Claude Killy murder story saying "Claudine Longet accidentally shot Jean Claude Killy in the back 17 times." just like he was a tv reporter. And at the end of his thesis period he didn't have time time to get the final draft(which was quite late) to his advisor(a person he was hoping to avoid at the time). So he asked me to deliver it. When I handed it to the advisor, The man said "you know most professors take a dim view of...." and at that moment realizing how Roy felt I came to his defense cutting him off to say "Most professors take a dim view of everything" And with that I walked out the door. Roy couldn't get over that story and fell over laughing. And it was that Roy Sutton laugh that you'd never forget! Ah the fond memories. My condolences to you Sherry and your family. I'm so sorry for your loss. And although its be many years since I've seen Roy I want you to know that I feel your loss as well.

Kindest Regards
David Coogan

October 27, 2017

October 27, 2017 We were saddened when we learned of Roy passing away. Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss, and may peace and comfort help you thru this difficult time. Sincerely, HELEN BENHAM MASTERS, FRED G. BENHAM III

Marilyn Conner Miles

October 27, 2017

So sorry to learn this Sharon. Hard for you and your family

Bunmi Lampejo

October 27, 2017

Of Roy I will say the best thing you can about a person - He was a very kind man. A decent human being. I hope this knowledge provides some comfort for Sherry and the children. He will be be missed.
My deepest condolences.
Bunmi.

Mike Hochella

October 26, 2017

I am so deeply saddened to hear the news about Roy. Roy had a remarkable and wonderful influence on my life during the many years that we lived and worked together, as undergraduate and graduate students at Virginia Tech, and as professionals at Stanford. And as the decades rolled on after that, he was always on my mind. He was brilliant and stunningly talented, and he was a true friend which, as we all know, is so rare. He comforted me in my darkest hour back in the 1980's when I lost my first wife. To do this, he flew from California to New York just to lift me up, and he did! It was a supreme act of conviction and kindness, but that was Roy. Going back further, to the beginning, I still remember the first time we met, in September of 1971. This is still vivid after 46 years, I'm sure only because of his remarkable traits. And in all that he gave and taught me, and in all that we experienced together, I will carry those things with me forever. May I always see in him who he truly was.
With love and blessings especially to Roy's birth family, and Sherry and children. May God bless and be with you.

John Crow

October 25, 2017

We're so sorry to hear of Roy's passing. Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always. You are in our prayers.
With Deepest Sympathy,
Ellen Wilkinson
John Crow

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