Dr. Jack M. Martt

Jack MacPherson Martt November 9, 1922 - April 24, 2015 Jack was born November 9, 1922 in Ashland, Kentucky. In his teens he moved to the St. Louis, Missouri area where he attended Clayton High School. He became the high school drum major and student body president. He also became an Eagle Scout. Jack attended Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, then obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Medicine from the University of Missouri-Columbia (1944), followed by a Doctorate of Medicine from Washington University, St. Louis (1946). After his Internship at Queen's Hospital, Honolulu, Jack served as a US Army Captain in post-war Germany, where he was in charge of an ambulance unit. While at Washington University, Jack met the charming nursing student Dorothy Frazer and they married in Stuttgart, Germany in April 1948. After his Army tour, Jack practiced in Cincinnati, OH, Dayton, OH, Houston, TX, and Iowa City, IA before settling in Columbia, MO with the University of Missouri. He received certification in Internal Medicine in 1955 followed with a specialty in Cardiovascular Disease in 1959. Throughout his career Jack was both a teaching and practicing physician as well as a researcher and widely published. He was on the leading edge of innovation in cardiovascular care. Together with a member of the maintenance staff at the University Hospital in Columbia, he developed one of the first devices for monitoring an in-patient's heart condition from a remote nursing station. In 1966, the University of Missouri granted Jack a one year sabbatical leave to the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden for furthering his research studies in cardiac techniques. One of his more unique experiences in that year was being the only American in a medical group traveling to the Soviet Union. Before entering the country, he was isolated from the group and revaccinated by the Soviet authorities. Jack joined the staff of Scott & White, Temple in 1969. Prior to his retirement in 1987, he served as Chief of Cardiology as well as Professor of Internal Medicine with the Texas A&M College of Medicine. After retirement, Jack worked for several years at the Temple Free Clinic, making a big difference in the lives of many who would otherwise have had no medical care. In 1986 Jack was honored to give the commencement address for the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. His message to the graduating doctors was that their foremost priority should always be concern, interest, and care of the patient. He advised them to "carefully and consistently defend your commitment to compassionate and quality care." Jack is dearly remembered by his many former patients and their families who found him a kind, gentle, and compassionate physician. Jack enjoyed travel, music, and yard work, especially planting trees. He gained his private pilot license and for several years owned a Piper Cherokee in which he and Dorothy took many trips. Jack was preceded in death by his loving wife Dorothy and is survived by son Gary Martt (spouse Marielle), daughter Anne Martt (life companion Patrick McLellan), sister-in-law Janice Todd, brother-in-law Russell Stumpe, and many nieces and nephews. The family sends a special thank you to all the current and former staff of Sodalis Elder Living Temple (previously AlzCare) for giving our father comfort, dignity, and friendship in his final years. The family is also grateful to New Century Hospice for their care and support in our father's final weeks. A memorial service honoring Jack's life will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 10:00 am at the Scanio-Harper Funeral Home with Chaplain Albert Lopez officiating. Private committal will be at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to a charity of choice such as Alzheimer's Association, American Heart Association, or Doctors Without Borders.