Tamara Lazic Strugar

On October 20th, 1980, Tamara came into the world in Yugoslavia, the daughter of Jadran Lazic, the Croatian photographer and Vesna Lazic, a lawyer. By the time she graduated high school in Beograd, she had lived through the Civil War and the NATO bombardment of Serbia. At the insistence of her father, who had since remarried and lived in Los Angeles, Tamara continued her higher education in the US, choosing a University based on the proximity to her Father’s home, UCLA being about five miles distance.

Fortunately no other colleges were closer to her father’s home, for if she had attended “The Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology” which was a few miles further, her future might have looked quite different.

At UCLA she graduated at the top of her graduating class, receiving “The Student of the Decade” award, before moving on to the Yale Medical School. In New Haven, she thrived in an academic environment that prioritized learning over grades.

While at Yale, her path crossed, then criss crossed and quickly merged with a Neurosurgeon, John Strugar, whom she would eventually marry at their house in Washington, Connecticut in August 2010. But first, Tamara continued her education in Providence, Rhode Island, training in Dermatology at Boston University/Roger Williams under the guidance of Dr. Falanga.

Her years in Providence were joyful and productive, with the publication of her research as well as the arrival of Luka on March 13th, 2012. Shortly thereafter, Tamara moved to New York where she was on staff first at Columbia University and then a 7 year tenure at Mt. Sinai Medical School.

On December 11th, 2013, the family was completed with the birth of Mia. Initially the Strugar family were Upper West Siders, but the desire to have the children be within walking distance to their schools led to a relocation to the Upper East Side.

In 2019 Tamara joined Dr Bhanusali at Hudson Dermatology in New York in a private practice until 2022, when as a result of her stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis she was forced to halt her clinical practice. After her diagnosis in February of 2022, Tamara underwent multiple surgeries, including a partial liver resection as well as nearly 50 rounds of chemotherapy. During this time, she wrote two children’s books as part of a series on educating children in a visually engaging manner on Dermatological issues.

Together with Dr. Bhanusali, Tamara launched a new scrubs line of fashion forward clothing: WearHudsons, based on the concept of the “silver lining” , the hope that drives most health care professionals to do what they do.

Throughout her four year fight with cancer, she maintained her preternatural optimism , humor and joy of life. Tamara Lazic Strugar passed on April 1st 2026. She leaves behind her loving family and her much beloved community.

Public visitation will be held at Frank E. Campbell, fourth floor, 1076 Madison Ave, New York, NY, on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.

A funeral service will be held at Frank E. Campbell - The Funeral Chapel on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 4:00 pm, with live stream available at https://memorialstream.online/strugar

A fourth floor reception will immediately follow the service.