| Dr. George Levi Sharpe May 4, 1944-June 2, 2006 |
| Click on photos above to enlarge. Photos are from Dr. Teel's retirement celebration Fall 2005. Right click on enlarged photos and select "Save picture as" to copy photos to your computer |
Dr. George Levi Sharpe, M.D., age 62, passed away peacefully at home on June 2,
2006. Born on May 4, 1944 in Channel, Newfoundland, Canada to George Thomas
and Irene Sharpe, he grew up in Burgeo, Whitbourne and Mount Pearl,
Newfoundland.
He attended Pre-Med at Memorial University of Newfoundland and graduated from
Dalhousie Medical School, Halifax, Nova Scotia where he met his wife and soul-
mate, Diana Mary Finch, R.N. They were married on October 11, 1969 in Halifax,
Nova Scotia.
George continued Pediatrics and Neonatology training in Canada and they had their
first daughter, Lara, in 1971. His Neonatology fellowship took them to Sweden a
couple of years later, where their second daughter, Jana, was born in 1975. Soon
after, they returned to Canada and later to the U.S where George joined the medical
faculty of Oklahoma University.
Recruited to build a neonatology practice in Austin, he began directing
Brackenridge Neonatal program in 1977. As one of the city's two neonatologists, he
worked closely to continue developing services for premature and sick babies in
Austin and the surrounding area, working at Brackenridge, Seton, and St. David's.
He held clinical academic appointments at the UT School of Nursing, UT School of
Pharmacy and at the UTMB Medical Branch, Galveston.
His wife, Diana, and George were dedicated volunteers for the March of Dimes, and
were long time patrons of the St. Edward's University Theatre. They also sponsored
the annual Sharpe Lectureship in Perinatology at the UT School of Nursing. George
held the chair of the Pediatric Ethics Committee for 18 years, participated in the
Parent2Parent Delivery of Chronic Care Committee and was a co-founder and, up to
his passing, an active Board Member of the Mother’s Milk Bank at Austin.
In the inevitable course of his illness, George's focus was on the well-being of
others. He was a caring, thoughtful and inspirational man, well-known physician,
and an outstanding father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. His healing
hands and kind heart touched the lives of many during his lifetime. His hobbies
included travel, scuba diving, gardening, reading and mastering computer
technology.
Predeceased by his loving wife Diana on October 29, 2004, George is survived by
his sister Patricia Murrin and brother-in-law Michael Conant; brothers, Donald
Walker and John Walker; his daughter, Lara Deming, son-in-law Gerry Deming;
grandson, Hunter Stanton Deming; granddaughter, Rylie Deanne Deming; daughter
Jana Sanders, son-in-law Bret Sanders; granddaughter Kira Diana Sanders as well
as many nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues who will miss him deeply.
The family wishes to thank the staff of MD Anderson Cancer Center of Houston TX,
Seton Medical Center of Austin, and St. David's Rehabilitation Hospital for their
skilled and caring hands during his illness. The love and support of his many
friends during his illness over the past year, and during his wife's illness in 2004,
was truly appreciated by both George and his family.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to the Mother's Milk Bank at
Austin, the Children’s Hospital of Austin, or a charity of your choosing.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 9, 2006 at Cook Walden
Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78752. Phone: 454-5611.
(Click on link below for a map and directions) A private interment will be held at a
later date. Please join us in honoring our loved one by visiting our Memorial at
www.mem.com. Through this site we invite you to share your thoughts and fond
memories with our family.
(The obituary above was published in the Austin American Statesman)
2006. Born on May 4, 1944 in Channel, Newfoundland, Canada to George Thomas
and Irene Sharpe, he grew up in Burgeo, Whitbourne and Mount Pearl,
Newfoundland.
He attended Pre-Med at Memorial University of Newfoundland and graduated from
Dalhousie Medical School, Halifax, Nova Scotia where he met his wife and soul-
mate, Diana Mary Finch, R.N. They were married on October 11, 1969 in Halifax,
Nova Scotia.
George continued Pediatrics and Neonatology training in Canada and they had their
first daughter, Lara, in 1971. His Neonatology fellowship took them to Sweden a
couple of years later, where their second daughter, Jana, was born in 1975. Soon
after, they returned to Canada and later to the U.S where George joined the medical
faculty of Oklahoma University.
Recruited to build a neonatology practice in Austin, he began directing
Brackenridge Neonatal program in 1977. As one of the city's two neonatologists, he
worked closely to continue developing services for premature and sick babies in
Austin and the surrounding area, working at Brackenridge, Seton, and St. David's.
He held clinical academic appointments at the UT School of Nursing, UT School of
Pharmacy and at the UTMB Medical Branch, Galveston.
His wife, Diana, and George were dedicated volunteers for the March of Dimes, and
were long time patrons of the St. Edward's University Theatre. They also sponsored
the annual Sharpe Lectureship in Perinatology at the UT School of Nursing. George
held the chair of the Pediatric Ethics Committee for 18 years, participated in the
Parent2Parent Delivery of Chronic Care Committee and was a co-founder and, up to
his passing, an active Board Member of the Mother’s Milk Bank at Austin.
In the inevitable course of his illness, George's focus was on the well-being of
others. He was a caring, thoughtful and inspirational man, well-known physician,
and an outstanding father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. His healing
hands and kind heart touched the lives of many during his lifetime. His hobbies
included travel, scuba diving, gardening, reading and mastering computer
technology.
Predeceased by his loving wife Diana on October 29, 2004, George is survived by
his sister Patricia Murrin and brother-in-law Michael Conant; brothers, Donald
Walker and John Walker; his daughter, Lara Deming, son-in-law Gerry Deming;
grandson, Hunter Stanton Deming; granddaughter, Rylie Deanne Deming; daughter
Jana Sanders, son-in-law Bret Sanders; granddaughter Kira Diana Sanders as well
as many nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues who will miss him deeply.
The family wishes to thank the staff of MD Anderson Cancer Center of Houston TX,
Seton Medical Center of Austin, and St. David's Rehabilitation Hospital for their
skilled and caring hands during his illness. The love and support of his many
friends during his illness over the past year, and during his wife's illness in 2004,
was truly appreciated by both George and his family.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to the Mother's Milk Bank at
Austin, the Children’s Hospital of Austin, or a charity of your choosing.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 9, 2006 at Cook Walden
Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78752. Phone: 454-5611.
(Click on link below for a map and directions) A private interment will be held at a
later date. Please join us in honoring our loved one by visiting our Memorial at
www.mem.com. Through this site we invite you to share your thoughts and fond
memories with our family.
(The obituary above was published in the Austin American Statesman)
