Louis Henry Deiterman, Ph. D.

Louis Henry Deiterman, Ph. D., passed away April 25, 2013 at home with his family beside him. A Memorial Mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, May 2nd at St. Luke Catholic Church in Temple. He was born in Temple to Louis and Otillia Deiterman on December 14, 1932. Lou was a 1950 graduate of Temple High School and received his Bachelor's, Master's and Ph. D. with Honors in Physics degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. He knew by the second grade that he wanted to be a scientist. His laboratory was the garage and his younger brother, Bob, was his assistant. His mother put out several fires in that garage. His sister Ann was born when he was eleven. Louis was taken out of school for six months to care for his newborn sister as their mother was hospitalized and had a long recovery. When asked if he resented this, he replied "no, I could pursue my hobbies and take care of her, too". His brother carried the homework to and from school. He and Bob spent many days fishing in the Lampasas River. Their mother would take them in the morning and pick them up in time for dinner. The family often went to Port Aransas for fishing trips. The vacations to "Port A" continued throughout his life. Some of the best times were when three generations of the family enjoyed fishing, crabbing and cooking the catches of the day. He also enjoyed hunting and playing tennis. He married Maretta Kirstein of Temple on September 1, 1956. It was the opening day of dove season, not the perfect day for his hunting brother and friends. They lived in Fort Worth where he worked for General Dynamics Corporation. In 1965, he joined the Scott & White staff to begin the Physics Department, which would work with Radiation Therapy. He oversaw the installation of the first linear accelerator for radiation therapy at Scott & White. He was an organizer and Charter member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine founded in 1958. The 70 members were pioneers in the field. He was twice president of the Southwest chapter of the Association. He was certified in Radiation and Oncology Physics, a requirement for membership in the American College of Radiology. He served on the Texas Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists for many years. At S&W he belonged to the Institutional Review and the Radiation Committees. He taught physics to radiology residents as an adjunct faculty member of the Texas A&M Medical School. He was a charter member of St. Luke Catholic Church and served on the Parish Council in the early years of the church. He was a Master Gardener and a Master Naturalist. An amateur astronomer all his life, he belonged to the Central Texas Astronomy Club and spent many Saturday nights at Star Parties. He looked forward each year to Star Parties at Prude Ranch where hundreds of astronomers from around the world gathered to share their love of the sky. He was an extra class HAM Radio Operator and belonged to the Temple Amateur Radio Club. He enjoyed music, from the Carter Family to the classics. He especially enjoyed hearing his wife play the piano. He and his wife traveled frequently abroad and In the U. S., where his favorite vacations were touring Rocky, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. He had great love and pride for his family. The friends made in the first years at S&W were friends throughout his life. He had a reputation for being willing to solve electronic problems and gladly advised friends who called. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Maretta, daughters, Sandra Deiterman of Temple, Karen Laughlin and husband, Grant of Dallas, grandsons, Jackson Hunter Laughlin and Mitchell Louis Laughlin of Dallas, brother, Robert Deiterman and wife, Tena of Hewitt and sister, Ann Tschoerner and husband, Ben of Paris, Texas. His family also includes five nieces and nephews and nine great nieces and nephews. In December, 28 members of his family were at his home to celebrate his 80th birthday. Memorial donations may be made to: St. Luke Catholic Church Building Fund, 2807 Oakdale Dr., Temple, TX 76502, Scott & White Healthcare Foundation, 2401 S. 31st St., Temple, TX 76508, Save the Children, 54 Wilton Road, Westport, CT 06880 or Temple Symphony Orchestra.