Dr. Josiah Fuller

Dr. Josiah Fuller, formerly of Duluth, passed away July 12, 2005 in Lady Lake, Fla. He was born in Canton, Ma, on March 14, 1920, to Nathaniel and Mary Elizabeth (Faulkner) Fuller. He graduated from Proctor Academy in Andover, NH, Dartmouth College and Medical School, Hanover, NH., and Harvard Medical School.. He returned to Hanover for an internship at the Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hopital, where he met and married Pearl Leigh in 1944. It was during WWII, and he subsequently served two years of active duty in the Navy as a medical officer for four Destroyer Escorts in the North Atlantic, after which he went back to Hanover for a year's residency in Pathology at the Veterans' Hospital and six-months residency in Surgery at MHMH. In 1948 he began a Fellowship in Surgery at the Mayo Clinic for three years, and was one of the early doctors accepted into the new Fellowship in Thoracic Surgery program for two years. Part of that training was at the Nopeming Sanitarium and he was urged to come to Duluth to practise. He received an MS in Surgery from UM and became a member of Sigma XI in recognition of research work. He came to Duluth in 1953 in private practise, but was soon invited to join the Duluth Clinic, where he remained a surgeon until retirement in 1985. He also served as a surgeon at the Middle River Sanitarium and the Nopeming Sanitarium until they no longer treated TB. Among his professional affiliations: Diplomate of both the American Board of Surgery and American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Served as President of the St. Louis County Medical Society, Duluth Surgical Society, Interurban Academy of Medicine, Minnesota Surgery Society, Minnesota Thoracic Society, Minnesota Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, Minnesota Chapter of the American College of Chest Physicians. Member of American Society for Thoracic Surgery and the American Trudeau Society, and served on the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons. He was also a Clinical Professor at the UMD Medical School. At St. Mary's Hospital he had served as Chief of Surgery, been on the Board of Trustees, and acted as Medical Director for a 6-months period. At St. Luke's Hospital he had been a Chief of Surgery and Chief of Staff. He helped to establish the first intensive care units in Duluth, and pioneered corrective heart surgery and pacemaker implantation surgery in Duluth, and was instrumental in planning and establishing the cardiovascular surgery unit. In the community he had been a Cub Scout Pack leader, member of Rotary International, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Kitchi Gammi Club, Northland Country Club, and in 1966 he received the Encore Award for Best Actor at the Duluth Playhouse for his role in 'Never Too Late'. He enjoyed downhill and X-country skiing, sailing, golf, grouse hunting,, and amused himself with playing the flute, violin, and piano. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Josiah II. He is survived by his present wife, Patricia (Gainey), Lady Lake, FL, and his former wife, Pearl, Duluth, a sister, Lucille (John) Bradford of Falmouth, ME., and children, Nathaniel (Cathleen) Fuller, Minneapolis; George (Jean) Fuller, Austin, Texas: James (Deidre Young) Fuller, Kimberton, PA; Jane (George) Killough, Duluth; Susan (David) Wright, Buffalo, Minn.; Patricia (Loren) Nelson, Elk River, Minn.. Grandchildren, Damen Fuller, Austin, Texas; Amanda Fuller, Minneapolis Minn.; Susan and Allison Fuller, Austin, Texas; Alex and Zoe Fuller, Kimberton, Pa.; Tristan Wright, Los Angeles, Calif., and Eric Wright, Buffalo, Minn.; Katherine and Sarah Killough, Duluth; James Eischen and Benjamin Eischen, Elk River, Minn. and a step-grandson Alex (Sarah) Neuse, Minneapolis, Also a great grandaughter,.Samantha Nicole Fuller, Austin, Texas.From his present marriage he also has step-children; Mary M. Gainey, Apple Valley, Minn.; Mark T. (Loida) Gainey, La Mesa, Calif.; Ann M.. (John) Orth, Wasilla, Ark; and Patrick A. (Michelle) Gainey, Sun Prairie, Wis. and four step-grandchildren. MEMORIAL SERVICE:will be arranged for a future date..