Alvaro O'Byrne M.D.

O'BYRNE ALVARO O'BYRNE, M.D. January 18, 1920-November 24th, 2008 Loving, generous, witty, lucky, great singer and dancer, husband, father, grandfather "Uito", 88 years old, born in Cali, Colombia, son of Federico O'Byrne and Rosa Barberena. He is survived by his wife of 58 years Maria Teresa Malvehy O'Byrne, five children and thirteen grandchildren: Maria I. O'Byrne Stephenson and John (Teresa & Phillip); Margarita O'Byrne Curtis and Manning (Heather & Patrick); Marilu O'Byrne Robinson and Sam (Mallory, Camille & Matthew); Angela O'Byrne (Kiko, Alexandra & Christina) and Alvaro Javier O'Byrne and Leslie (Cate, Lucia & Cecile). He is also survived by his sisters Beatriz, Rosa Elvira, Yolanda and his brother Federico O'Byrne. Alvaro graduated from Medical School at the Universidad Nacional of Bogota, Colombia in 1945 and did his internship and residency in ophthalmology at La Samaritana Hospital in Bogota, Colombia. Subsequently, a Kellogg Foundation Fellowship enabled him to pursue graduate studies at Harvard Medical School and Columbia University. Upon completion of his post-doctoral work, he returned to Cali, Colombia where he practiced ophthalmology for 17 years, and volunteered as a clinical professor at the Universidad del Valle Medical School. In 1965, he returned to the United States to teach at Tulane Medical School in New Orleans, trading the earthquakes of the Andes for the hurricanes of the gulf. Hurricane Betsy struck barely two months after he settled in the Crescent City with his wife and five children. While at Tulane, he also obtained a Masters Degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine. In 1976, he opened his private practice, the O'Byrne Eye Clinic, at the Kenilworth Professional Building in New Orleans East, later located at the Medical Center of East New Orleans. When he retired in 1991, his children Marilu O'Byrne and Alvaro J. O'Byrne continued the care of his patients until their practice was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Dr. O'Byrne valued the long-lasting, warm relationships he developed with his patients in New Orleans East throughout the years. His family wishes to thank friends, colleagues, and patients for enriching his life with their love and support. His family will miss his gentleness and equanimity, love of life and people, and his ability to liven up a party with his operatic voice, sense of humor and masterful dancing. A memorial service will be held at Holy Spirit Church, 6201 Stratford Place, New Orleans, La., 70131 on Saturday, December 6th, 2008 at 1:00p.m. Visitation at the Church will begin at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Lighthouse for the Blind, 123 State Street, New Orleans, La., 70118 or to Second Harvesters Food Bank of Greater New Orleans, 1201 Sams Ave., Jefferson, La., 70123.