Henry James Tipper Sears

Henry James Tipper Sears was born on April 19, 1937 to George Alonzo and Marion Tipper Sears in Minoa, NY. He attended the prestigious Albany Academy which later presented him with its top honor, the Distinguished Alumnus Award. He received his BA from Wesleyan University and his MD from Albany Medical School. Commissioned in the Navy in 1964, he completed his psychiatric residency at the (then) Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland where he was chief resident.
His subsequent assignments were: Staff Psychiatrist, Philadelphia Naval Hospital after which he volunteered for service in Vietnam as Head of Neuropsychiatry aboard the USS REPOSE (AH16l; Head Officers' Unit, Chairman; Department of Psychiatry, Naval Hospital, Philadelphia; Chairman of Psychiatry, Naval Hospital, Portsmouth; and Naval Hospital, San Diego. He assumed command of the Naval Medical Command in Washington, DC and culminated his career as Deputy Surgeon General of the Navy.
Following his retirement from the Navy, Jim worked for Aetna, the TRICARE Managed Care Support Contractor responsible for implementing the Civilian side of the TRICARE program in support of military beneficiaries in Southern California. There he worked to develop changes which enabled active-duty and retired members to receive high-quality care, close to a large military treatment facility without traveling great distances to receive care.
He became the first Executive Director of Tricare Management Activity, working closely with Congress and Military Coalitions to develop and pass legislation to improve the TRICARE Healthcare Program to meet the needs of health care beneficiaries in Southern California.
His other professional experiences include Interagency Medical Team for American Hostages held in Iran, Consultant to Surgeon General, Operation Homecoming (return of Vietnam prisoners of War), helping to create support groups between families of the victims to ease the transition of the returnees to their homes and communities. He provided counseling to POWS for psychological trauma and family problems. He served as consultant for the Navy's Antarctic Support Force.
In addition to the Legion of Merit with two stars, the Meritorious Service Medal with Star and Navy Commendation Medal with Star, Admiral Sears wears the Navy Unit Commendation National Defense Service Medal, Antarctic Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medical.
Jim stood out as a leader in health care while on Active Duty and as a civilian, following retirement. His primary focus was always on how to improve delivery of high-quality healthcare services in support of active duty, retired and their family members. Jim could look back on his career and take immense pride in knowing that he made a difference in the restructuring and delivery of Military Health Care.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, his brother, George, his sisters Jean and Virginia and by his first wife of 62 years, Elsa Weber Sears. He is survived by his daughters Deborah Sears, Joyce Mulligan and Wendy VanDerzee, his son, James Tipper Sears, six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and his wife Phyllis Fazzari Speer Sears.