Carl Bryan Luikart

Dr. Carl Bryan Luikart, Jr., son of Carl Bryan Luikart, Sr., and Helene Carmelite Coons Luikart, was born January 2, 1920, and died February 2, 2016, survived by the love of his life, his wife of nearly 67 years, Maia Weston Luikart. He is also survived by their five children and their spouses: Kenneth Leslie Luikart, Maia Helene Luikart Butler (Tom), Carmelite Weston Luikart, Karen Luikart Hayes (Tom), and Elizabeth Luikart French (David); sixteen grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; niece Jeannie Posadas Miller (Creighton), and numerous other nieces and nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Helen Luikart Posadas; and his brother, Dr. William M. Luikart. Bryan spent his grade school and high school years in Argentina, becoming fluent in Spanish and English. He also spoke Italian, French, and a smattering of Chinese. Bryan began his B.S. degree at Louisiana State University in 1938, following an accelerated path to his medical degree. He earned his B.S. in 1942 and his Medical degree, with honors, in 1944. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of two wars, serving during World War II attached to a Marine Unit in the Pacific theater and North China; and later returning to active service for the Korean conflict as chief Medical Officer aboard the USS St. Paul, and then establishing tuberculosis screening protocols for servicemen in the Pacific Northwest area. After completing his residency in New Orleans following World War II, Bryan started his medical practice in Baton Rouge in 1950, and obtained his Board Certification in Internal Medicine in 1952. Bryan and his brother Bill practiced medicine together for 40 years. Bryan was a Clinical Professor of Medicine at LSU from 1982 until age 75, a senior visiting physician at Charity Hospital in New Orleans throughout his entire practice, and a consultant in Internal Medicine at Earl K. Long Medical Center from 1991 to 1995. In his 80's, he traveled to Honduras to treat underprivileged patients pro bono, seeing as many as 60 patients a day. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the East Baton Rouge Medical Society, and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, receiving the Physician's Laureate Award in recognition of his dedication and accomplishments in his chosen field. He served as Chief of Staff at Baton Rouge General Hospital, Chief of Medical Services at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, and President of the Baton Rouge Academy of Internal Medicine. He was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church for many years. Bryan loved his family and the game of golf, playing at the Baton Rouge Country Club until age 94. He also enjoyed pastel and oil painting, and continued his lifelong love of languages, art, music, and learning in general through Lagniappe Studies at LSU. In later years, he enjoyed his weekly game of chess with his good friend Dr. Gus Dalton. His family would like to thank The Butterfly Wing: The Hospice of Baton Rouge, and gives particular thanks to Bryan's doctor, nephew, and dear friend, Dr. Carl Luikart, for his many years of care, kindness, and love. Services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church on Saturday February 6, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until service time. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions can be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, or the charity of your choice.