Harold George Scott

Captain Harold George Scott, Ph.D., 89, of Metairie, Louisiana, passed away Saturday, March 7, 2015 at East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie following a brief illness. His beloved wife, Bettie Tabakin Scott, 90, of Metairie, Louisiana, passed away just 35 hours later on Monday March 9, 2015 also at East Jefferson Hospital in Metairie following a separate brief illness. Harold George Scott and Bettie Tabakin Scott had nine children and are survived by six: Jasmine Holly Williams, Lorelei Dawn Barber, Lt. Rodger Forrest Scott (USN Ret.), Clifford Russell Scott, Conrad Ashley Scott, and Dolores Crystal Dechman. They leave behind 22 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. Harold is survived by his sister, Virginia Nash (née Lucille Virginia Scott) and her husband Lt. Col. Leslie "Les" Nash (1929-Nov 2015). Bettie is survived by her brother, Burton S. Tabakin. Harold and Bettie are survived by their dear friends RADM Jerrold M. Michael (Ret.), Ferdinand "Fred" Trujillo, and the "Old Soldiers Club" of Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie, LA. Harold and Bettie are predeceased by three children, Claudius Avery Scott (1957-1957), Curtis Matthew Scott (1960-1992), and Gloria Desiree Scott (1965-1970). Harold is predeceased by his brother, USAF Lt. Col. Lewis Milton Raymond Scott (1924-2011). Harold and Bettie are predeceased by lifelong friends Max J. Miller of Alberta, Canada (former Chairman of Tropical Medicine at Tulane University), Chester J. Stojanovich (CDC entomologist, and father of Paul Stojanovich, 1956-2003, American television producer). Harold is predeceased by his dear friend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Harold George Scott was born on August 20, 1925 in Williams, Arizona, the son of Milton Raymond Scott of Alexandria Bay, NY, and Lucille Crosby Scott of Stafford, Arizona. Harold traveled extensively as a child due to his father's military service– his father eventually retired as a military officer. Bettie Tabakin was born on December 9, 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Joseph Issac Tabakin and Pearl Weinstein Tabakin. Bettie was a member of the USO, and attended Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Harold and Bettie were married on August 8, 1948 in Bristol, PA. During their time together military service called the family to Albequerque, New Mexico, Atlanta, Georgia, Waggaman, Louisiana, Glen Dale, Maryland, and Metairie, Louisiana, where they eventually settled. Captain Harold George Scott, Ph.D. served his country during WWII, Korea, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War, and the Iraq War. He authored 1000+ military-related publications and 11 general interest books including LUPOW 4 (1990), and Lelia, The Compleat Ballerina (1975). Harold George Scott began his military service in the US Army, and trained with the 1st Special Service Force in 1942-43. He served during WWII (battles of Leyte and Luzon), and Korea. In 1955 he became a commissioned officer in the US Public Health Service (USPHS) and was stationed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. In 1957 he was awarded his Ph.D. in Biology. He was an expert in Vector Borne diseases, and instrumental in congressional legislation signed by President Lyndon Johnson contributing to the control of Vector Borne diseases in the United States. While in the USPHS he served during the occupation of the Dominican Republic (1965) and Vietnam (5th US Army Special Forces) for which he received the Hazardous Duty Medal. In 1967 he became the Assistant Director of the US Public Health Service Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1969 he was appointed Deputy Assistant Administrator of the USPHS Consumer Protection and Environmental Health Service in Washington DC, where among other efforts he prepared portions of President Richard Nixon's first State of the Union Address (delivered January 21, 1970). In 1970 he was nominated for Rear Admiral (07) but President Nixon failed to sign the promotion. Harold George Scott retired from the US Public Health Service (USPHS) as Captain (06) on July 1, 1972 after 30 years of service. After retirement from the USPHS he served as Director, Tropical Ecology Program at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he also served as Professor of Tropical Medicine at Tulane University Medical Center. He served as Director of Environmental Health for the City of New Orleans, on the Mosquito Control Board of New Orleans, and as Deputy Director of the Senegal River Basin Health Study (1977-1980), in Senegal, Africa, with study director Max J. Miller. Captain Scott was continually recalled to active duty throughout his later life, and served stateside until past age 80, including during the Persian Gulf War (Keesler Air Force Base), and the Iraq War (stateside). Bettie Tabakin Scott was a gifted artist, writer, and actor whose many brilliant works include painting and poetry. She performed 8 roles in 21 performances of the Original American Version of the Oberammergau Passion Play (1977, New Orleans, LA, Val Balfour). She was a member of the Louisiana State Poetry Society, an avid painter, and the author of several published books of original poetry including Chance and Illusion (1994), and The Sea Caves (2000). Harold and Bettie were members of the Special Forces Association, and the Military Retired Officer's Association. A graveside service will be held for Harold George Scott and Bettie Tabakin Scott on Friday, January 15, 2016 at 2:30PM at Biloxi National Cemetery in Biloxi, Mississippi. Arrangements are entrusted to Leitz-Egan Funeral Home, Metairie, Louisiana, 504-888-8440. -