Thomas Calvert Naugle, Jr., M.D.

Thomas Calvert Naugle, Jr., M.D., passed away peacefully August 15, 2026, at home, in the loving arms of his wife, Dennie Elizabeth (Betsy) Naugle. Dr. Naugle was born in Gadsen, Alabama, on November 30, 1939, the birthdate he proudly shared with Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, and Roy Rogers, equal giants of history in their own birthrights. Naugle grew up in Columbus, Mississippi before moving to New Orleans in 1954.

Dr. Naugle was an accomplished ophthalmic plastic surgeon who earned national and international recognition. Committed to advancing the Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery field, he invented sixteen different procedures, one of which was patented, the Naugle Ex-Ophthalmometer, still in use in surgical suites across the world. Another of his inventions, the Naugle-Fleming Knurled Dilator, reduces operating time from 1.5 hours to under 20 minutes. He also devised the Naugle Posterior Auricular Muscle Complex Graft (PAMCG) which is used in five different procedures in ophthalmic plastic surgery. He presented several Distinguished Guest Leadership papers and lectured locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

Thomas Naugle was the first surgeon in Louisiana to practice Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery. He also participated in Project Orbis in Morocco where the operating venue was a DC-8 airplane. With the plane on the ground, Dr. Naugle operated on patients while explaining the procedures to a group of physicians being cabled into a large auditorium at the airport. These lectures were captured with equipment donated by the Sony Electronics company and broadcast throughout the medical world.

In 1981, Dr. Naugle participated in a lecture tour of Mainland China and Manchuria. On this trip, Naugle was exposed to the Mandarin language and thus his love of languages was born. Dr. Naugle was fluent in multiple languages, including Mandarin, Spanish, German, Japanese and French and also had a working knowledge of four other languages. His fascination with languages remained central to his life until his final days.

A hard-working, competitive and meticulous surgeon, Dr. Naugle received medical and personal accolades throughout his fifty plus years in the medical field. He was gregarious, warm, and a fun-loving soul with a strong sense of humor and much kindness in his heart. He delighted in complimenting others, spreading joy whenever he could, always greeting patients and friends with a hug.

In New Orleans, carnival reigns, and through Dr. Naugle’s enthusiastic leadership, a group of medical school students worked with him to found the Pine Street Block Party. Fifty-one years after its inception, the Pine Street Block Party carries on in true Naugle fashion where everyone is encouraged to revel in live musical performances by Deacon John and the Ivories, paired with the libations and festivities unique to Mardi Gras Saturday in Uptown New Orleans.

In 1991, Dr. Naugle was recognized by Tulane University’s Ophthalmology Residents who bestowed on him their Best Teacher Award. In 1997, Tulane University awarded Dr. Naugle the Tulane Outstanding Ophthalmology Alumnus Award.

As an active contributing member of three professional organizations regulating the field of medical ophthalmology (AAO, ASOPRS, ESOPRS), Dr. Naugle participated in writing, publishing, and editing books, chapters of books and articles, penning over 75 articles that were published in juried professional journals across the world.

Very early on, life prepared Thomas Naugle for the person he was to become. As a child, he learned to love music, sports, intellectual endeavors and to value and honor the rights and dignity of the human being. He carried his life’s outlook to everything he did, from competitive swimming for the Audubon Swimming Team, to carrying his responsibility as a track team member, to holding rank in his university’s Army and AirForce ROTC. Dr. Naugle graduated from Fortier High School and the University of Mississippi where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He graduated Tulane University School of Medicine in ophthalmology where he was Chief Resident and graduated with Honors. He then received the prestigious Heed Foundation Fellowship for Post-Graduate study in Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery at the renowned Callahan Eye Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, and at Manhattan Eye & Ear Hospital, Cornell, and Columbia Hospitals in New York City. A member of the Tulane School of Medicine clinical faculty for close to 50 years, Dr. Naugle achieved the rank of adjunct professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery Section.

During the Vietnam War, Dr. Naugle served as a Major in the US Air Force in Japan, earning several Awards of Excellence and Exceptional Achievement Citations as well. He authored a pamphlet on Emergency Ocular Care for the entire Pacific Theater.

Thomas Naugle, Dr. Tommy to many of his patients and loving family, was a Tulane University legend and is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Thomas C Naugle, Sr. (Mildred), his grandfather, Dr. Andrew Kincannon Naugle (Elizabeth) both Tulane University Medical School Alumni. He is also preceded in death by his infant brother, David Humphreys Naugle, and nephew, Thomas Naugle White.

Tom Naugle is survived by his soulmate, Betsy Brumfield Naugle; his four-pawed buddy, Sazzy; his sister, Julia Lloyd Naugle White (Walter); sisters-in-law, Janet M. Brumfield and Brenda Brumfield Swords; nephew, Walter Huntsville (Hunter) White IV; niece, Millette White Lin (Henry); nephew, Gaston Swords (Raven); niece Margaret Swords (Julien Burns); three great nephews and one great niece; cousin Robert Lloyd Jones and his family (Barbados); and best friend of 83 years, Dr. James Keeton.

Special appreciation to caregivers Chanel Franklin, CeeCee Duplessis, Sheree Nelson and Debra Wallace. The family also is indebted to Liz Cabrera, Dr. Christine Cao, Dr. Meredith Maxwell, Dr. John DePaula and Compassus Hospice.

A theme that ran throughout Thomas Calvert Naugle’s life was one of commitment, of honor, duty, and hard work. Each chapter of his life spoke of the tremendous impact he had on the lives of others, his patients, his colleagues, his friends, and society at large. Since birth, Tom exhibited a joie de vivre, and many were drawn to his mischief, his grandiose stories, his love of music and his overall optimism for life; he was a lifelong Old Miss Rebel and Saints fan.

Dr. Naugle had a long and amazing career in medicine. He continued to the end of his life, to lead groups of residents in the understanding of his medical ideas. At his dining room table residents would gather, asking questions, learning, developing and expanding their own understanding of the magnitude of Dr. Naugle’s work. Thomas Naugle was proud of these sessions because he wanted his intellectual banner to be carried on, to be further developed and enhanced, for the betterment of the world.

We will miss you, Thomas Calvert Naugle, colleague, friend, and loving husband, brother and uncle. The memory of who you were and the good you did for the medical world and your local and global community will continue to be alive, until the end of time.

A private service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Department of Ophthalmology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 131 S. Robertson St., 12th Floor, #8069, New Orleans, LA 70112, or charity of your choice would be appreciated.