DR TOLAS WAS SUCH A LOVELY HUMAN IN SO MANY WAYS.  ALWAYS SO CARING, GENEROUS AND SINCERE. 
HE TOOK CARE OF MY WISDOM TEETH AND PULLED A RELUCTANT TOOTH FROM MY 6 YEAR OLD'S MOUTH WITH LOVING CARE. 
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO KNOW HIM ON A PERSONAL LEVEL FOR  SEVERAL YEARS AND HIS HUMOR AND LOVE OF FAMILY WAS INSPIRING. 
THE WORLS IS A LITTLE DARKER WITHOUT HIM. 

I am so sorry to see the passing of Andy.  He was a wonderful person and gentleman.  He practiced oral and maxillofacial surgery across the street from my father Dr. Thomas Drangsholt and myself for many years and took great care of our family, friends and patients.  
He was devoted to teaching in the OMFS program at the UW and had a positive and lasting influence on many residents and others like myself.  On behalf of the entire Drangsholt family, we offer our deepest condolences.  We will always remember him. 

Tom Hohl
Dec.21,2020
    It was with heartfelt and deep sadness that I learned or Andy’s passing.  We lost one of the finest teachers, mentors, colleagues, big brother and dear friends that a person could be blessed with.
    Andy’s dedication to teaching and staying current with the literature was unmatched.
    Andy was kind enough to let me work part time in his office after I completed my OMF training and had accepted a teaching position at U of W.
    A typical day at Andy’s office was very busy and stretched my limited abilities at times. When I made some errors Andy was a mentor and supporter. Never a negative word.
    We did many hospital cases together and had many hours to discuss life in general.
    He was a truly devout and deeply religious person who lived his life accordingly, with no hypocrisy.
    His life of generosity and devotion are examples for all of us to strive for but few will obtain.
    I loved Andy and will miss him very much.
    May you Rest In Peace my dear friend. 
    May Carolyn, Pam, Jimmy, Mark and Andrea find peace in all the great memories and love.

"Speak me fair in death."

While saddened by his passing, it is a private joy to read the memories of Andy Tolas shared by his friends in this memory book. I met Andy in 2013. Soon after arriving, Dr. Worthington informed me that 2014 would be Andy's 50th year of service to the University. While I had a couple of things on my plate, Philip, in his inimitable manner,  suggested gently that "wouldn't it be nice to recognize Andy's many years of unselfish, devoted service to teaching and patient care." With the help of the department's staff,  we celebrated  Andy's 50 years of university service at Daniel Broilers in Bellevue, June 2014. It was a wonderful evening of sharing stories and old friends reminiscing of days past. (Special thanks to my friend and colleague, Roger Meyer, for including a photograph from the event in this memory book)

I just read Joe Piecuch's note. I hope that he and Andy were not my board examiners in 1990! It was a rough day. Maybe that was when I first met Andy?!?!?

Though my time short with Andy was short, it was rich. He always had a thoughtful,  kind comment for the residents during our service meetings. His recollection of publications from the 1960s and 1970s on various aspects of cardiovascular disease was remarkable. And the citations always seemed to make it into our discussions. 

Condolences to Carolyn and family. Andy was a gentleman, gentle soul, and a scholar of life and so much more. The world is poorer without him. He will be missed. 

Tom and Ellen Dodson

As a surgical intern at Harborview in the early 1970's Dr. Tolas was a fabulous primary mentor in my educational transition from dentistry to oral and maxillofacial surgery and outpatient anesthesia....at a time when you first started to learn how little you knew about your profession to be and you were frankly scared.  His demeanor and forever nurturing manner was soothing while conveying knowledge at every encounter.   As others have said, Dr. Tolas  made a lasting contribution to our education that we will never forget.

Thank you Sir.

Michael    

Dear Dr. Tolas ,  may you rest in heaven at peace knowing that you have influence so many of us throughout our lives. We first met in 1997, I arrived fresh out of residency eager to learn.  I learned so much from you  and your way of treating patients with kindness, your generosity with your time and your  desire to teach. I think I learned most listening to the conversations between you and Dr. Philip Worthington. Your humor ,your intelligence ,your bantering among colleagues really lit the way for me to become who I am today. May God bless your soul always. 

Saddened by this news. Dr. Tolas always sat next to me during the CPCs. Firstly, I was amazed that each time he was among the first to be there for the early morning CPCs. He always had a story to tell. His insightful tidbits were so useful and his knowledge of pathology was also strong. He made it a point to thank me for my input. Such a humble person such a great heart and such a wonderful person. Always a smile on his face. UW oral surgery is poorer by this loss. May he Rest In Peace. Strength and peace to his family. 

Carolyn, Violeta and I just learned today, from Roger Meyer, of Andy's passing.  Violeta was born in Qteza, Albania, a tiny mountain village about an hour from Corcé, on 10 September 1932.  For some reason, my memory tells me Andy,s family was from Corcé.  That may not be the case.  We visited there in 2007.  Andy's father and Violeta's father knew each other, but I do not know whether they were boyhood friends or whether they met later in Chicago.  Andy preceded me by one year in the University of Illinois program under Dr. Daniel Laskin.  He was just completing his rotation at Carl Memorial Hospital in Champaign-Urbana when I had just arrived to begin mine.  That was where we first met him.

We remember visiting you in your home in Seattle.  Busy lives, separated by 160 miles, and the responsibility of parenthood kept us from seeing more of the Tolas family.  We forever lamented that reality.  As you may recall, Roger joined my practice after he finished medical school while he awaited his academic career at Emory University in Atlanta.  He was always so good about  sharing your fun times together.  

May Almighty God grant Andy eternal peace, and we ask Him to   look after you, also, Carolyn.   Love from Violeta and Don Sperry

I fondly remember Dr Tolas from our Harborview sessions in the early 90’s. He was a great teacher with lots of stories. Condolences to all the family he was much loved and admired by all his residents 

Dr. Tolas  was one of the most inspirational men I have had the honor of knowing.  While I was in residency, I learned so much from his insightful wisdom, strong faith, and his passion for learning.  I feel so blessed to have been mentored by him weather it was on a mission trip in Guatemala or middle of the night in the OR at Horborview.  His inspiration continues to influence me as a man of faith, husband, and surgeon!  The world is truely a better place because of Dr. Tolas! 

I am deeply saddened to learn of Andy’s passing. Andy’s kindness and steadfast approach to patient care has remained one of the greatest lessons and has always guided me. My memories of Andy laughing and urging me on to learn were, and will always be, the fondest during my time in Seattle. Andy was very passionate about teaching  and an extremely compassionate mentor, as well.  My heart and thoughts go out to Carolyn and all of Andy’s family. Andy, you will be missed by all! I am one of the lucky ones whom benefitted from knowing you as mentor. Thank-you Andy.
Sarah Satow


Dr. Tolas was so gracious and generous with his time. He cared deeply as an educator.  I was always to so happy to see him attending CE and resident education events, long after I finished the program. He had such a breadth of knowledge in anesthesia and physiology - he could tell you first hand accounts of using medication we only read about. He was treasure trove of great tidbits of those of us learning this craft. There are few who would continue to share their knowledge as long as he did. He truly was a gift to the UW program and a wonderful, humble human being.  He will very much be missed.

So sad to hear of Andy's passing.  Despite his diminutive stature, he was a giant who led so many of us by his example of teacher,  researcher, gentleman, loyal friend, loving husband and father, fervent practitioner of his Eastern Orthodox faith, elite runner, and doter of his grandchildren.  I met Andy on my first day of surgery residency at Harborview Hospital in July, 1963.  Andy had just begun his year as Chief Resident.  From that day forward, Andy was my teacher, role model, confidant and life-long friend.  I was privileged to participate in research and the publication of papers and book chapters on one of Andy's favorite subjects: outpatient/office anesthesia.  In our relationship during and after residency we had many in-depth discussions, not only about surgery, but about life, friendship and faith.  We also shared many runs together, and he was always ahead of me, those short legs churning like well-oiled pistons!  Andy was a great surgeon, and treated all his patients with the respect that is all to often lacking in other doctor-patient relationships.  He also gave the same concern and respect to all the residents that he supervised over the years.  It was a gift we were blessed to receive.  Andy, Carolyn, and all their lovely children became like family to those of us who were fortunate to know them.  Andy had a long and productive life.  But passing at age 89, I still have the feeling that he (in the words of the Neil Diamond song) was "done too soon!"  Rest in peace, dear friend; your journey to the Lord is completed!  Condolences and much love to Carolyn, and to Pam, Jimmy, Mark, and Andrea, and all the family.  You were so blessed to have such a loving husband and father.
Note: the attached photo is  of Andy, Carolyn, Pam, Jimmy, Mark, Andrea and Roger Meyer at the celebration of Andy's 50 years of service on the faculty of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, June 21, 2014.

Over 4 decades ago, in the mid-1970's,  I worked with Andy at our out-patient general anesthesia clinics at Harborview Medical Center.   He was always calm, and exhibited a kind and knowledgeable manner to the patients, and also to us residents.

Coincidentally, I had the opportunity to work with Andy once again, in a different setting, in 1990, when we were paired as ABOMS 
co-examiners for the oral exams, then held in frigid Chicago. 
Sitting in a room with Andy all day, each day, for a week as we interviewed anxious candidates on their handling of anesthesia and medicine issues was a pleasure.  His warm yet thorough approach was appreciated by the candidates. 

Andy will certainly be missed!

Joe Piecuch 

Dr. Tolas  was my oral surgery and anesthesia instructor while I was doing my Oral Surgery Residency at Harborview Medical Center. I gained much knowledge from his wisdom and expertise which helped me in my practice. He will always be honored.

 Too many great memories of Dr Tolas from my time at UW!  I remember one particular day he picked up his new Harborview ID badge and they had it marked “Andy Tolas MD”. He was smiling and dancing a little jig saying “gather ‘round boys!  I finally have my MD!”  He was an amazing teacher and mentor.  An absolute brilliant mind!  Rest In Peace Dr Tolas!

Andy was a friend and mentor to generations of  UW OMS.  Caring Compassionate and Concerned.  He ALWAYS put patients and resident education first and "lived the Golden Rule" - treating others as he'd like to be treated.  A living example to all - with a kind manner and BIG heart.   A LIFE well LIVED.   He will be missed -  his legacy to ALL who interacted with him and have benefited from his expertise will continue through the examples he showed us.   RIP

When I heard the news today, it was like a punch to the stomach. Andy has been a rock for our program, a mentor to us all and a generous donor to that which he loved - teaching the residents. I shall miss his ‘you know’...his wit and  engaging stories.  Rick and I are saddened at the passing of such a kind and caring clinician, father, husband and friend. 
Rest In Peace .


Linda and I are so sad to hear of Andy's passing. He was a very important part of my education as a resident and his continued support as the years passed was invaluable. He and Carolyn gave us a beautiful baby shower in the month before we left for Arnhem where Linda gave birth to our first child, Jessica. It was so kind of them...but that was the way they were! He will be missed by many.
Gary and Linda Feldman


Heartbroken to hear of our loss..   Words cannot express the impact he had on my training and life in general. His generosity in all he did will serve his memory well.   I will never forget the time I got to spend with him in and out of the operating room.  Dr. Tolas is the gold standard for a mentor/ educator in all he did.    

Lisa and I are so saddened to hear of Andy's passing.  Our hearts are heavy. We know that Andy is with his savior. We pray that Carolyn and the entire family will find peace and comfort though your faith and knowledge of God's love and plan for us all.

I am so sorry to learn that Andy has passed away.  He was a true scholar, gentleman, and friend.  I will miss his inquisitive mind and his insightful clinical management of patients.  He was a lifelong learner and he always read and attended seminars to increase his understanding of physiology and basic biology.  He was a dedicated teacher who contributed to the education of dental students, residents, and colleagues.  His contributions to the  development and implementation of office anesthesia evaluations will continue to insure the future safety of outpatient anesthesia in dentistry and oral and maxilofacial surgery.  He will be missed but his influence on the individuals that he touched and educated will live on in the current and future generations of clinicians that he helped teach.  Please accept my heartfelt sympathies for the loss of such a kind and wonderful man.  Ross

OBITUARY

Andrew George Tolas

September 11, 1931 – December 10, 2020

Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home & Cemetery

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services