Obituary of John Pitts

JOHN LEAKE PITTS, JR., M.D., M.P.H. John L. Pitts, Jr. of Annapolis, Maryland, passed away at home on Wednesday, March 13. Born in Roanoke, Virginia, on July 15, 1926, he was the son of the late John Leake Pitts, Sr., and the late Mary B. Allen Pitts. He graduated from Jefferson High School in Roanoke and attended Roanoke College. In 1948, he graduated from the School of Medicine at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. He served as medical officer in the United States Army in Japan from 1948 to 1950. His internship and pediatric residency were served at the Medical College of Virginia. In the early 1950s, he completed a fellowship in pediatric cardiology directed by Dr. Helen Taussig at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. In the late 1950s, he had a private practice of pediatric cardiology in Greenville, South Carolina. In the early 1960s, he returned to Johns Hopkins to earn a master of public health (M.P.H.) degree. Over a 30 year period, the subsequently held various positions in the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Baltimore City Health Department, and the Anne Arundel County Health Department. He is survived by his sister, Helen Pitts Vaughan, of Roanoke, Virginia; nephews David A. Vaughan and wife Jane, of Lynchburg, Virginia, and Gary M. Vaughan and wife Janice, of Lexington, Virginia; great-nephews Rawley J. Vaughan and wife Melissa, of Alexandria, Virginia, and Carter A. Vaughan and wife Ashlee, of Fort Worth, Texas; and great-great niece, Catherine A. Vaughan of Fort Worth, Texas. He is also survived by The Reverend Canon Bill Christianson, his devoted friend and caregiver, of London, England. The family wishes to thank Mrs. Tina Sears, Mr. Robert Giddings, Gene and Mimi Miller, Dr. Jason Taksey and staff, Dr. Angel Torano and staff, Dr. Semra Sahinci and staff, and nurse Lori Batdorf for their compassionate care. Those wishing to make a memorial contribution are asked to consider Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, Maryland. There will be a graveside service for immediate family and close friends at Evergreen Cemetery in Roanoke, Virginia, on Saturday, March 17 at 3 P.M. A memorial service to give thanks for his life, will be held at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Annapolis, Maryland, on Saturday, March 24 at 2 P.M.