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Hervey E. Averette

Hervey Averette Obituary

AVERETTE M.D., HERVEY E., born in Fayetteville, North Carolina on February 22, 1932, the only child of Hervey and Ellen Averette, passed away at his home in Miami, Florida on July 1, 2005. At the time of his death, Dr. Averette was a clinical professor of gynecological oncology at the University of Miami. He was a former American Cancer Society Professor of Clinical Oncology, Sylvester Professor, and Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Miami School of Medicine. Dr. Averette received his BA degree from Davidson College in 1954 (where he also played football) and his MD degree from the University Of North Carolina School Of Medicine in 1958. He completed his residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1963 and his Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Miami School of Medicine-Jackson Memorial Medical Center in 1965. Since that time, he served on the full-time faculty of the University of Miami, where he has been active in clinical research and patient care. Dr. Averette's career was notable for his work in the subspecialty of gynecologic oncology. He was one of the founding fathers of the Gynecologic Oncology Board, and for many years had been a national leader in the surgical management of gynecologic cancers. He directed a nationally recognized fellowship training program in Gynecologic Oncology and had an outstanding record in academic education. Dr. Averette was President of the Florida Society of Gynecologic Oncologists from 1994-1995 and President of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists in 1972. He was a member of the American Cancer Society's National Breast Cancer Task Force, and from 1990 to 1995, chaired the National Breast Cancer Task Force on Gynecologic Cancer. Memberships in 28 medical organizations included: the American Gynecologic and Obstetrical Society, the Society of Pelvic Surgeons, and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists. He has been on the Editorial Board of six, peer-reviewed journals and was Associate editor of the Journal of Cancer. Dr. Averette was author and co- author of over 300 scientific publications. Handsome and charming, Dr. Averette was an avid sailor for his entire life and was a longtime member of Coral Reef Yacht Club in Coconut Grove. He was never happier than when sailing with his wife Barkley on their sailboat Celerity. Dr. Averette is survived by his wife, Barkley; daughter, Ellen Reese; daughter, Virginia Fox; and five grandchildren: Christopher Finn, Michael Reese, Avery, Julia, and Parker Fox. Services will be held on Wednesday, July 6, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 5690 N. Kendall Drive, Coral Gables, 33156. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1475 N.W. 12th Ave., Miami, FL 33136, (800) 548-4000. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.herald.com/obituaries.

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

Published by the Miami Herald from Jul. 3 to Jul. 4, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for Hervey Averette

33 Entries

LOUIS DEVILLON

September 24, 2021

I just came across Dr. Averette's obituary. He saved my wife's life in 1975. May he rest in peace. God bless you, doctor.

Jack Heath

September 2, 2005

Dear Barkley, Ellen and Genea:

It has taken me this long to come to grips with the passing of Hervey. He was truley a remarkable man, husband, father and friend. His kindness will be remembered by many, both friends and patients, as well as colleagues. Mostly I will remember the fun, the sailing and boating, the rabbits, the girls growing up, and his infectious smile. Can't forget the Porshe either. I do not think I will ever respect anyone as much because he touched so many parts of my life. He was there every time I asked for his advice, whether for personal needs or for a friend in need. Just about four months ago I called on him for a favor and he took care of the problem. I am so glad that I was able to talk to him after he got home and at the same time am so sad that I was not there for all of you. You are in my thoughts every day and I hope to visit with you soon. Love and all my prayers; Jack Heath

Ronald Dudan, M.D.

August 4, 2005

Dear Barkley and Family:

Jane and I were saddened over the passing of Hervey. He was truly one of the most outstanding and dynamic persons that I have ever

known. He will be an icon of his time in Gyn-Oncology. I will always

be indebted to him for my training

and as my mentor.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Jane and Ron Dudan

Robert & Geraldine Giuntoli, SR.

July 23, 2005

We send are condolence to the Averette family. We have known the Averettes since 1973. We will truely miss his kindness.

Love

Bob and Geraldine Giuntoli

Pam Spires

July 22, 2005

Dear Mrs.Averette and Family: I am very saddened to have learned of Dr. Averetee's death. We worked together for a number of years at JMH. He was a wonderful boss, a dear individual, an outstanding physician, and his patients dearly loved him. He had a huge impact on the interns and residents that rotated through the department, and was well respected by the entire nursing staff. He will always be in my memory as one of the finest physicians with which I have been associated. My thoughts and prayers are with each of you.

Pam Spires, VP, Bay Medical Center, Panama City, FL

Chester & Sandi Morris

July 18, 2005

Barkley,I go back with Hervey till 1962. I was an intern and he was a resident. He was one of the reasons I went into OB-GYN. He was a great teacher,a true southern gentleman,a great oncology surgeon, and a wonderful friend. I have been out of town and just got back and received the sad news. God bless you and your family.

Chester & Sandi Morris

John & June Vela

July 17, 2005

Dear Barkely,Ellen,Ginea and Family:

June and I were shocked and saddened at the passing of Dr. Averette. Although we have not seen or visited with you all in a long time we always considered your family as friends & neighbors from the early days of our meeting in Coral Gables and thru our family ties with all of you thru our daughter Pam.

Please accept our deepest sympathies and condolences to you and your daughters and the entire family.

Mr.& Mrs. John J. Vela

(Vero Beach, FL)

Bill Greene MD

July 13, 2005

To the family of Dr. Averette

It was my priveledge as a student and a resident to learn from this remarkable man. I was at a medical meeting in Boston several years ago and was asked by one of the other doctors if I knew Dr Averette when I mentioned that I trained in Miami. I said I did and asked if he knew Dr. Averette. He said no but he was from France and in Europe the nitrazine test, used everywhere to detect rupture of the membranes is known by its inventors name as the Averette test.

Ed Trapido

July 12, 2005

Hervey and I were colleagues over many years at UM, and I appreciated his insight, wisdom, warmth, spirit, and strength. I was saddened and shocked by the news.

Joan McNeill

July 11, 2005

To the Averette family:

I was a patient of Dr. Averette for over 20 years. What a life he had! He often spoke of you with such love and joy. He loved sailing. Sadly his type of physician is almost nonexistant. He truly cared and went to extraordinary measures to preserve our health. He will never be forgotten or replaced. My prayers are with you.

Janet Mauer

July 9, 2005

Dear Mrs. Averette and family:

Sadness overcame me when hearing of Dr. Averette's death, having just been for my yearly check-up in March.

He saved my life 17 years ago after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I still remember his good humor and expertise he demonstrated when making his rounds in JMH with his Fellows trailing him! What a wonderful doctor and teacher he was!

He talked often to me about you and your daughters, since I had a daughter of similar age.

I, like everyone else, will miss and remember him.

Jill Atwater

July 7, 2005

Dear Barkley, Ellen, Ginea and family:

I was shocked and deeply saddened at hearing of the death of my former employer and friend.

"Dr. A." was a HUGE part of my life through the many years I worked for him as his secretary at UM/JMH. I respected him immensely, enjoyed his company both professionally and socially, and now, on reflection, realize that I thought of him as immortal !!

I am sorry I was unable to attend the reception at the Club after the service to get a chance to visit with you all. Your husband/father was dynamic and kind, and had a robust, full-of-life personality. My deepest sympathies and condolences to you all.

Johanna Soto-Kleuskens

July 6, 2005

Dear Mrs. Averette, I was shocked to learn of your husband's passing today. I have been a patient for the past 8 years and will never forget his friendly smile and his conversations about cruising and traveling to Holland and Germany, which he seemed to enjoy a lot. I will surely miss him.

Arthur Shapiro

July 6, 2005

Dear Barkley, I was so shocked and saddened to hear of Hervy's passing, especially after we had our last meeting about 12 days ago when he was in such good spirits postoperatively..I will always remember him for his special charm of the Southern gentleman that he was, along with his special genuine infectious smile. It was a privilege for me to have known him as mentor, colleague and a friend. May the legacy of his many accomplishments always be a source of joy and comfort for you and the family. Arthur and Rivka Shapiro

Richard Alger

July 6, 2005

Dear Mrs Averette, My wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1990. Her Homestead physician/surgeon, Raymond Crissey, predicted she could live only 6 months after he removed a cancerous tumor on her omentum. Jackson hospital and Dr. Averette were recommended. My wife lived 5 years due to treatments and operations and I thank Dr. Averette for extending her life. Thank you

Julie McKinnon Chase

July 6, 2005

Dear Mrs. Averette and Family,

I learned only yesterday of Dr. Averette's passing. I am so sad as is everyone who knew him. He literally saved my mother's life in 1972 with a then extremely rare surgical procedure that lasted 9 hours. She lived for another 29 years thanks to his talents. He has been my doctor for the past 25 years and I cannot imagine that I will never see his smiling face and hear that North Carolina drawl ever again. Please know that thousands of stories like this are out there thanks to your husband.

A forever grateful patient.Julie McKinnon Chase

Christian Castellanos

July 6, 2005

I only new Dr. Averette for a short time having met him at David Leira's shop about 5 years ago. I will miss his warm smile and kind words. I will never forget the times he drove away in Penelope, he seemed to have so much fun every time he got in that car. It was a pleasure knowing him.

Natalie Reynolds Schneider

July 6, 2005

Dear Mrs. Averette, Ellen and Virginia,

I was saddened today as I read the email. All of you are in my prayers. I have fond memories of your home with all those girls around skating on the patio making all that girl noise. Dr. and Mrs. Averette just let us be girls. Never a sour note unless we got ugly with one of our own. The memories on the boat always have stuck with me. He always made sure we felt welcome and had fun.

I know Dr. Averette was a great asset to the University and to the community. Undoubtedly he is missed.

My condolences,

Natalie

William Cohen

July 5, 2005

It is with deep sadness and sorrow that I learned of the passing of one of the best surgeons and practioners that I know of. He was one of my mentors, having completed my Residency in Miami in 1980, and will be deeply missed. My profound condolences to his wife and family.

Cathy Harvey

July 5, 2005

To the Averette family:

I am so very saddened to hear of your loss. I first knew Dr. Averette as a resident when I was a UM nursing student in the operating room at JMH. He was impressive then and even more so when I came in contact with him again as my mother's physician for the last twenty years. She is nearing 90 years old and we have Dr. Averette to thank for her longevity. We will always remember his kindness, compassion, and humor. I hope that you can feel some measure of comfort in knowing how many others share your loss.

Susan Johnson

July 5, 2005

Mrs. Averette: While I do not know you personally, and did not know Dr. Averette, I do know your daughter Ellen. You can be proud that Ellen’s character displays the finger print of her parents - a testament to the wonderful man and father Dr. Averette was for his family. I send my deepest sympathy. Susan Johnson

Donna Covello

July 5, 2005

Dear Mrs. Averette and family,

There are no words to express my profound sorrow to you and your family at this difficult time. Dr. Averette was there for me a few years ago and helped save my life; for that I will be forever grateful. Please accept my deepest sympathy on the loss of a wonderful, caring man.

Donna Covello

Bernard Fogel

July 5, 2005

Dear Barkley, I have been fortunate to have been a student of, a fellow trainee, a close collegue and good friend of Hervey for nearly 50 years.All of us at the U.of M.School of Med. and Jackson were really lucky that he decided to spend his entire professional career with us.I referred many patients to him over the years and they all said that he was the best.He will be missed professionally and as a dear friend. Bernie Fogel

Ann Hughes

July 4, 2005

Dear Barkley,

There are no words to tell you how saddened I was to read of your loss in the paper today. Your husband was not only my doctor for 26 years but also a fellow health care professional at the UM for the past 26 years. Over these years we have shared research projects as well as friendship. He will be greatly missed in both my professional and personal life. Both being tarheels we often shared many stories of our times in N.C. and especially Chapel Hill.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Fondly,

Ann Hughes

University of Miami Tissue Bank

Carolyn Walker

July 4, 2005

Dear Mrs. Averette,

I was so saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Averette. My thoughts are with you in this time of sadness. May you find comfort in the enduring beauty of God's world, and in the warmth of happy memories. With the passing of time, may the spirit of acceptance and inner peace enfold you.

With sincere sympathy to you and the family.

Mindy Migdal-Seguin

July 3, 2005

To the Averette Family,

I am very sad today to learn of Dr. Averette's passing. He saved my life about 9 years ago when he operated on me for cervical cancer. I truly believe that I am alive today because of him.

I hope that whenever you feel the breeze on your face, you will know that it is Dr. Avetette giving you a sign that he is in heaven .May he rest in peace. Thank you ,Dr. A. mindy

Fred and Judy Brindle

July 3, 2005

We had the pleasure of working with Dr. Averette for many years. We will miss him.

Leslie Friedman

July 3, 2005

Dr. Averette has been my doctor for the past 26 years. Now at 52, I am a 26 year cancer survivor thanks to my luck in having been referred to him by doctors at MD Anderson who provided a second opinion of my condition all those years ago. I was 26 when he treated me for ovarian cancer, and I have looked forward to seeing him for my annual check-ups year after year. I am truly so grateful for having been under his care for so long. He will always remain one of the nicest people I've ever known, and without question one of the greatest doctors ever. Hearing of his passing is one of the saddest moments of my life. Thanks to him, I still have a life. I will miss him very much.

Fred Moffat

July 3, 2005

Dear Barkley

We were shocked and immensely saddened to hear from Joe Lucci of Hervy's sudden passing. He was a wonderfully warm person and consummate physician and surgeon, and a terrific mentor for all who had the good fortune to work with him. You and your family are very much in Jenny's and my thoughts and prayers.

Much love

Jenny and Fred Moffat

Peter & Jeanette Whelpton

July 3, 2005

We were privilged to have know him in the last year of his wonderful life.

We shared his love of old cars. Our payers are for his family in this time of terrible loss. We are proud to have been his neighbors.

Nancy Yerrick

July 3, 2005

I have known you for 36 years. You trained me in 1968 in GYN onology and because of your training I have excelled in many ways in this field.I have traveled for 10 years all over the United States and the minute I tell some of the surgeons that I trained under you they tend to keep me in there room. My last assignment was at Emory where everyone I worked there had nothing but respect for you. I am so proud to have known you. You have been my mentor and friend through out the years. Thank you so much for all the knowledge. May you rest in peace.My prayers are with you.

diane freedman

July 3, 2005

Dr. Averette was so helpful in calming our fears over a possible ovarion cancer scare of mine some 6 years ago, and his calm demeanor and reassuring knowledge gave us enormous relief, we are so very sorry to hear of his passing. Be assured he was a tremendously helpful human being who made a huge impact in this world.

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