Dr. Stephen Paul Tuuri

Dr. Stephen Paul Tuuri passed away on Monday, January 26, after a long battle with cancer. He was born on June 21, 1946, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Mary (Schnitzer) and Arthur Tuuri and was the eldest of six children. He graduated from Flint Central High School in Michigan and earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Michigan, where he met and married Georgianna, his beloved wife of 53 years. He completed his first medical internship at General Rose Memorial Hospital in Denver, Colorado, and then joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a flight surgeon for four years. After an honorable discharge from active military service in 1978, he and his family moved to New Orleans, where he completed his Internal Medicine Residency and Gastroenterology Fellowship at Tulane University Medical Center. He practiced medicine in New Orleans until 2002 then worked in both Baton Rouge and as a locum tenens until his retirement in 2012. He cared deeply about his patients and colleagues and was known for his kindness, compassion, and going to great lengths to provide excellent care to all.

Stephen was also a dedicated environmental advocate—he was an avid recycler who loved trees. After his retirement, he repotted hundreds of saplings in and around his home, giving them to numerous members of the community. A lifelong learner, he highly valued education for himself, his children, and his grandchildren, whom he encouraged to read, learn science and mathematics, and study the natural world. He was a devoted member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Chapel, where he routinely volunteered at the C.S. Lewis student luncheons. Additionally, he thoroughly enjoyed his time as a member of the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society.

He leaves behind his wife, Georgianna; his daughters, Rachel Tuuri (Aaron Griffith), Rebecca Tuuri (Steve Kingsbury), and Sarah Coleman; and grandchildren Miles, Peyton, Drew, and Helen Coleman, and Maddi and Luke Kingsbury, who fondly called him “Dah.” He also leaves behind his three sisters, Janet, Mary-Sue, and Ann; his two brothers, Bill and Tom; and a multitude of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to St. Alban’s Episcopal Chapel (https://www.stalban.org/give) or St. Vincent De Paul Baton Rouge (https://www.svdpbr.net/). His funeral service will be held at St. Alban’s Episcopal Chapel at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 31.