Thomas L. Jeatran

Thomas L. Jeatran, R. Ph.

77, died peacefully on October 9, 2012, following a heroic fight with pancreatic cancer. Tom was born May 25, 1935, in Menomonie, Wisconsin, to Peter and Gertrude (Lewis) Jeatran. His parents and brothers, Dan, Bob, Jim and Dick preceded him in death; his sister, Anne Rankin, survives. Tom was deeply loved and will be missed by his wife, soul mate and best friend, Betsy Jeatran, son David (Teri) Jeatran and Tom's grandsons, Ben and Sam, daughter Sarah Fenton and grand-daughter, Grace, sons Peter and Paul Jeatran, daughter Stephanie (Mark) Jones and grandchildren, Craig, Ashley, Hannah and Emma Jones and Kylee, Derek and Courtney James, and son Richard (Dawn) Crock and grandchildren Madison, Logan and Hadley, and countless friends who admired Tom for his steadfast loyalty and wise counsel.

Tom was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy, and a fiercely loyal UW alumnus. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he attained the rank of Major in the Medical Service Corps. Following his honorable discharge, he worked as a pharmacist for five years and in 1963 began a 35-year career with Eli Lilly and Company as a medical sales representative in the San Francisco area. While there, he completed his MBA at San Francisco State University. In 1973, Tom was assigned to Lilly headquarters and began a series of leadership positions in regulatory affairs, clinical research, pharmaceutical development and clinical trials. He headed the Clinical Materials Group and was responsible for the manufacture, testing, packaging, labeling, inventory and distribution of drugs in global clinical studies. He pioneered a system for dispensing clinical materials that earned him U.S. and European patents. Lilly CEO John Lechleiter said of their service together, "Tom always exemplified so well our Lilly values of integrity, excellence, and respect for people. Our company and our community are all the better for Tom's many contributions."

Following retirement from Lilly, Tom operated his own clinical materials consulting firm and worked for Cook/Baxter Pharmaceuticals as director of clinical supplies, retiring in 2003.

Tom was truly a global figure in his profession. He founded the pharmaceutical industry's clinical materials technical group in 1985, taking it from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association to the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), where he organized a group in Europe. Tom was elected to three terms on the ISPE Board of Directors and following retirement from Lilly, served as ISPE's Education Advisor, organizing educational seminars around the world. He presented at symposia in the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia, contributed to many industry publications and co-authored a chapter in a text regarding clinical materials that is still in use. Tom was a registered pharmacist in Wisconsin and Indiana.

Even though he was an Indiana resident for almost 40 years, Tom was a Badger through and through. He loved regaling his family and friends with stories of his Wisconsin youth, where he developed his passion for hunting, fishing and the outdoors, which led to his lengthy, active membership in the Friends of the White River, where he was a director. He was also on the board of advisors of BioConvergence LLC and held leadership positions in the Indianapolis chapter of the UW Alumni Association, which honored him as "Badger of the Year" in 2012.

Family and friends will gather for a visitation at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Monday, October 15, 2012 from 9-11 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the White River, P.O. Box 90171, Indianapolis 46290, the University of Wisconsin Foundation, c/o Elizabeth Goers, 14039 Brookstone Drive, Carmel 46032, or Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School, 500 East 42nd Street, Indianapolis 46205.

Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel , is assisting the family during their time of loss. http://www.leppertmortuary.com