Dr. Maurice Edward St. Martin Jr.

Dr. Maurice Edward St. Martin, Jr., age 79, passed away peacefully at home on December 8, 2023, following a long illness. He dedicated over five decades of his life to his remarkable career as a physician, and with his father Dr. Maurice Edward St. Martin, Sr., and his daughter Dr. Michele St. Martin Hargreaves, was part of three generations of "Dr. St. Martins" in the family. Due to skipping a grade in elementary school, being invited to start college at Tulane University after his junior year of high school, and completing his undergraduate education in 2 years, Edward started medical school at Tulane at age 18. He had to pass a panel interview with the entire board of the medical school to be admitted at such a young age. At 18, he won the award for the highest grade in anatomy class, and he eventually graduated near the top of his class. He went on to do his internship, residency, and cardiology fellowship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, interrupted only by 2 years of service as an internal medicine physician in the Navy in Corpus Christi, Texas with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, interventional cardiology, and echocardiography, and practiced electrophysiology as well. During the first year of his fellowship, in conjunction with a second year fellow, he performed the first echocardiogram in the state of Louisiana. He had a very distinguished career as one of the top cardiologists in New Orleans, and served as chief of cardiology at the former Southern Baptist Hospital (now Ochsner Baptist), and was later president of the medical staff for four separate terms. He and his first partner in private practice, Larry O'Meallie, introduced angioplasty to the region, after learning the technique directly from Andreas Gruentzig in Switzerland. He helped oversee the merger between Baptist and Mercy, and later with the Ochsner system. In addition, with several colleagues, he started what became the People's Health Insurance Company in New Orleans. He was also well known for his expert witness work, having provided reports and testimony for several national class action pharmaceutical suits. He was widely respected by colleagues for his diagnostic acumen, and beloved by patients for his personalized care. In his personal life he was a perpetual autodidact, teaching himself everything from how to build model railroads, to play golf, to play the guitar, to painting, to computer coding, to astronomy, to racing yachts. With his brother Armand St. Martin, a professional musician, he recorded a silly single about hurricane evacuation called "Contraflow" and performed it at Tipitina's. He was a talented painter, and from his self-taught coding, he wrote and patented a program to produce echo reports. In his yacht racing days, he went from finishing dead last in his first race (with his middle school daughter Michele crewing), to winning the first place overall trophy at Key West Race Week in 1994, representing the Southern Yacht Club. Edward eventually succeeded at everything he attempted, because he would study any initial failure, learn from it, and apply the lessons. In this way, he taught his children the value of persevering. Edward was also well known for his intellect and wit, and made sure to save his corniest "dad" jokes for his daughters. Edward lived an incredibly full life, yet invariably prioritized his family above all. No matter how busy he was, he made sure to carve out time for his wife and daughters whenever he was needed. He was married to his wife Roxie for fifty-seven years, ascribing the secret to their long union to Roxie being his best friend. He adored his two daughters, Michele and Nicole, was so very proud of them, and frequently commented that "your children are your greatest treasure." He is survived by his wife Roxie Greene St. Martin; his eldest daughter Michele St. Martin Hargreaves, her husband David Hargreaves, and her son Benjamin Hargreaves; his youngest daughter Nicole St. Martin Johnson, her husband David Johnson, her sons Logan and Corey Johnson, and her daughter Hallie Johnson; his sister Celeste St. Martin Cornelisson; and his brother Armand St. Martin and his wife Patti. He was preceded in death by his father, Maurice Edward St. Martin, Sr., and his mother, Rose Beeson St. Martin. A memorial service will be held at the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1545 State St., New Orleans, LA 70118 on January 8, 2024. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 am, followed by the service at 11:00. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association in Edward's memory. To share your fond thoughts, memories, and condolences with the family, please visit the online guestbook at lakelawnmetairie.com.