Obituary from the Aug. 20-21, 2016 weekend edition.
Thomas Hartley
1925-2016
Thomas Franklin Hartley, M.D., of Scottsdale, Ariz., passed away on Aug. 10, 2016 at the age of 91.
At his request, no service will be held.
Tom was born in 1925 to Jimmie Clay Franklin Hartley and Thomas Jay Hartley of Little Rock, Ark. Tom spent his happy youth in Little Rock and Hot Springs, Ark. He graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1943 and was a member of the Delta Sigma Fraternity’s Alpha Kappa chapter.
From 1943-45, during World War II, he served in the U.S. Naval Air Corps. After the war, he graduated from Little Rock Junior College in 1947 and then received his bachelor of science degree in management at Oklahoma A&M University in 1948. Dr. Hartley met and married, Martha, while at the University of Arkansas Medical School, where he received his medical degree in 1951. He then served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a battalion surgeon and completed his medical internship at Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma, Wash. and at Fort Hood in the years that followed.
The family moved to the West Texas town of Snyder, in 1953, where Dr. Hartley joined friends and fellow physicians, Drs. Carl Dillaha, John O’Bannon and Wilton Jones, in general practice. He also served as chief of staff at Cogdell Memorial Hospital from 1960-63. This was followed by a residency in internal medicine at Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple. Dr. Hartley went on to complete a residency in allergy and immunology at the University of Colorado Medical School from 1965-66. After returning to Temple in 1966, he was on staff of the allergy department at Scott and White Memorial Hospital and also served as a consultant in allergy and immunology for the Veteran’s Administration Center and the Santa Fe Hospital. He received his certification as a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine in 1967 and certification by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology in March 1968.
Dr. Hartley joined friend, doctor and colleague, R.C. “Rosie” Romero, M.D., in Arizona in July 1968 to form Allergy and Immunology Associates, Ltd., of Scottsdale and Phoenix, where he practiced for the remainder of his career. He was certified by the American Board of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology for 42 continuous years and was part of the active medical staff and teaching staff at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz. and Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz.
In addition to his successful practice, he served for several years as an allergy consultant to the Phoenix Zoo elephant population. His most famous pacaderm patient was Ruby, the renowned Asian elephant whose colorful paintings were sold all over the U.S. Tom also was a Federal Aeronautics Administration examiner, an associate clinical professor at LSU Medical School, served on the board of the Maricopa County Medical Society and was president of the Arizona Society of Allergy. Tom was named a fellow of the American College of Physicians in 1971 and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in both 1971 and 1983. He served on the board of directors for the Foundation for Medical Care and was a scientific assembly committee member for the Arizona State Medical Association. Other associations and memberships included the American and Arizona medical associations, American Academy of Allergy and Immunology, American College of Physicians and the American College of Allergy and Immunology.
Dr. Hartley was involved in more than 34 clinical research projects during his medical career and was published nine times as a result of his expertise in his field. He lectured on allergy, asthma and immunology and related diseases, across Arizona during the years he practiced and was often called as an expert witness in medically-related trials.
It was obvious to all who knew him that Tom dearly loved the practice of medicine and greatly missed the profession, his patients and his colleagues after retirement. He was very proud that Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Associates continues as a successful medical practice led by clinicians he mentored.
Tom and Martha, whom he affectionately called “Sam,” enjoyed 60 years of marriage before her passing. They had fun times with family and a myriad of good friends, pursuing many adventures and hobbies, which included being licensed pilots, ranch and race horse ownership, a love of water and snow skiing, world travel and the sailing of their beloved boat, “The Sam,” in San Diego. They shared good and active lives.
“Popa” was adored and will be greatly missed by all in his family.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha, his parents and one sister.
He is survived by two sons, Tom Hartley Jr., and his wife, Sally, of Scottsdale, Ariz. and John Hartley, and his wife, Cindy, of Prescott, Ariz, three granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.
Donations in Dr. Hartley’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest, 1028 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006 or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 East Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014.