ALBERT RHOTON

RHOTON--Albert, Jr., M.D.

Albert Loren Rhoton, Jr., M.D. age 83, of Gainesville, FL passed away Sunday, February 21, 2016 at his home. He was born in 1932 in Parvin, Kentucky to Albert Loren and Hazel Van Cleve Rhoton. He began in the poverty stricken Kentucky Appalachians. A lifetime of influential achievements in his field gained him respect of his peers worldwide. He was the R.D. Keene Family Professor of Neurosurgery; Dr. Rhoton had the honor of meeting two presidents, President Ronald Reagan and President Jimmy Carter. His passion was Micro Neuro Surgical education, mentoring young Neuro Surgeons, exercise and family time. Dr. Albert L. Rhoton, Jr. attended Washington University School of Medicine, graduating with the highest academic standing in the class of 1959. He completed his neurosurgical training at Washington University and joined the staff of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in 1965. He became Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Florida in 1972. Dr. Rhoton had served as President of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Society of Neurological Surgeons, the North American Skull Base Society, the International Interdisciplinary Congress on Craniofacial and Skull Base Surgery, the Florida Neurosurgical Society, and the International Society for Neurosurgical Technology and Instrument Invention. He served as the Honored Guest of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons in 1993 and was awarded the Cushing Medal of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons in 1998, the highest honor given by the two largest neurosurgical societies in the United States. In 2001, he was awarded the Medal of Honor of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. He had served as the Honored Guest or been elected to Honorary Membership in neurosurgical societies in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America. He had published nearly 500 scientific papers. He had completed a textbook, Cranial Anatomy and Surgical Approaches which has been published in English, Chinese, Portuguese and further translations are in progress. His definitive neurosurgical lectures are available free on ITunes University and at multiple internet sites. He had received an Alumni Achievement Award from Washington University School of Medicine and both a Distinguished Faculty Award and a lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Florida. In 1998, the University of Florida completed a Brain Institute which houses the activities of the neurosurgical group and the microsurgical laboratory. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joyce L. Rhoton; four children, Dr. Eric Rhoton (Diane) of Asheville, NC, Dr. Albert Rhoton (Marya) of High Point, NC, Dr. Alice Rhoton-Vlasak (Richard) of Gainesville and Laurel Rhoton-Selner (Jim) of Gainesville; grandchildren, Shauna, Leah, Alayna, Eric Jr., Alexandra, Albert John, Madeline, Henry, Alexander, Abigail, Ashlynn, William; great-grandchildren, Kalie, Braydon and Amelia; brother Dr. Richard Rhoton (Lois) of Findlay, OH and sister, Sue Johnson (Herb) Tustin, CA. He was an awesome, kind, gentle man who changed neuro Surgery and his family and friends. Please visit his memorial page at www. williamsthomasfuneralhome. com. For further information, Williams-Thomas Westarea 352-376-7556