Roy H. Clauss M.D.

CLAUSS--Roy H., M.D., a pioneering cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, died July 7, 2007 in New York City. He was 84. During his career, Dr. Clauss helped develop and perfect a variety of techniques involved in the performance of open heart surgery and cardiac bypass surgery, and helped pioneer bilateral carotid artery surgery. He authored over 150 medical articles and in 1971 co-authored "Remedial Arterial Disease" with the late Dr. Walter Redisch. Dr. Clauss and his second wife, Pamela Heavey Clauss, a surgical and heart pump nurse, along with Greek surgeon, Dr. George Sanoudos, established the first open heart surgery facility in Athens, Greece in the mid 1970s. Born in 1923 in Melrose Park, Illinois, Dr. Clauss graduated from Northwestern University in 1943 and from its medical school in 1947. Dr. Clauss married Jane Hamden, of Oak Park, Illinois, in 1945. In 1970 he married Pamela Heavey, and remained her devoted husband until her death in August, 2001. He had a tremendous love of the arts and music, frequenting the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic as a patron. Dr. Clauss was for many years a member and then Deacon and Elder of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, in New York City. In 1993, he was one of the founding members of The City Church, New York. Dr. Clauss is survived by three children, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, three siblings, and many devoted friends and colleagues. Dr. R. Maurice Boyd will hold service for Dr. Clauss at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, 81st Street and Madison Avenue, on July 10, 2007 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made on behalf of Roy and Pamela Clauss to: Mend a Broken Heart Foundation, Inc., PO Box 434, Elmsford, NY 10523.