Everett Van Dyke Sugarbaker

SUGARBAKER, M.D., EVERETT VAN DYKE, died unexpectedly of natural causes on the 5th of February 2006 at his home in Miami, Florida. He was 65. He was born in New York City, New York to Everett D. Sugarbaker, MD and Geneva I. Sugarbaker. He grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri and graduated from Jefferson City Senior High School in 1958 and Wheaton College, Illinois in 1962 with a major in chemistry. In 1966, he received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in New York City. He graduated as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. His five years of general and thoracic surgical training took place at the prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital, a Harvard University affiliate. In 1973, he completed the rigorous surgical residency program. As a commissioned officer with the United States Public Health Service from 1968 to 1970, he received specialized training in surgical oncology for two years at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland and one year at the M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas. In 1975, he accepted an associate professorship in surgery at the Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami where he practiced general and thoracic cancer surgery. In 1980, he founded the Miami Cancer Institute where he pursued a different approach to the treatment of cancer patients. He organized a multi-disciplinary team of physicians to provide comprehensive care. His private practice, Surgical Oncology Associates, located in Miami, was a research based private practice that treated a wide diversity of cancer patients. He performed surgery on head and neck, thoracic, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and dermatological cancer patients. Dr. Everett Van Dyke Sugarbaker was one of the most comprehensively trained cancer surgeons of his generation. He was as technically accomplished as any cancer surgeon can be. In addition to his Miami-based medical practice, he also contributed to the advancement of medical care in Ipiales, Colombia. Following the 1999 earthquake in Colombia, he helped to rebuild hospitals and nursing homes in Armenia, Colombia. He also served on the boards of numerous charitable organizations advancing health care in disadvantaged parts of the world. He retired from his private medical practice on the 31st of December 2005 having published numerous manuscripts, written many book chapters and books, and delivered countless lectures on cancer surgery in Florida and around the world. He was an avid long distance bicyclist, accomplished fisherman, and world traveler. He climbed many mountains including Pikes Peak in Colorado. In addition, he enjoyed collecting antiques. On the 23rd of January 2000, unfortunately his son Everett M. Sugarbaker died at age 28 of melanoma. He was studying to become a physician as well. The family will receive visitors on the evening of February 8, between the hours of 7 and 9 p.m. at the Van Orsdel Funeral Home, 4600 SW 8th Street, Coral Gables, Florida. Services will be held on the morning of February 9 at 11 am at St. Phillip Episcopal Church, 1142 Coral Way, Coral Gables. A graveside service will follow immediately at Woodlawn Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the St. Phillip Memorial fund in memory of his son, Evere tt M. Sugarbaker, St. Phillips Episcopal Church, 1142 Coral Way, Coral Gables, Florida 33134. Everett is survived by his mother Geneva, wife Myriam, daughter Katy Caliguiri and her mother Catherine, and two grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Everett M. Sugarbaker. He is also survived by nine brothers and sisters, Paul, Rena Pedersen, Geneva Surgarbaker, Eve Tolley, Deborah Digges, Constance Moore, David, Elizabeth Akre, and Steven. To his family, friends, and patients we extend our deepest condolences. Perhaps his patients, thousands in number, will miss him most of all. VAN ORSDEL - CORAL GABLES 4600 SW 8 St (305)446-4412 Family Owned Since 1924 To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.herald.com/obituaries.