THOMAS RANDOLPH CATE, M.D.
1935-2020
Thomas Randolph Cate, M.D. was born February 19, 1935 in Nashville, Tennessee to AnnaMarie Landress and William Robert Cate, M.D. After attendingMontgomery Bell Academy, he graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1956 and married his high school sweetheart, Deborah Luton. Three years later he received the Founders’ Medal upon graduation from Vanderbilt School of Medicine. Tommy trained as a resident at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City for two years and conducted research for four years at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland. Moving to St. Louis, Tommy then served as Chief Resident at Barnes Hospital, Washington University in St. Louis before joining their medical school faculty. Another move in
1968 brought Tommy to Durham, North Carolina, to join the faculty of Duke UniversityMedical School for six years. Baylor College of Medicine enticed him to move to Houston in 1975, where he worked on flu and shingles vaccines and taught medical students and residents until he retired in 2009 as Professor ofMedicine. The ultimate gentleman, Tommy died peacefully on November 8, 2020, following complications from a broken hip.
Dr. Cate was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Dr. William Robert, Jr., his sister AnnaMarie Anderson and his daughter Milbrey Starnes. He is survived by Deborah, his wife of 64 years, his sons Dr. Thomas Randolph, Jr. (Dea Ann) and Christopher Harper (Sharon), and twin daughters Amelia Swanson (Brian) and Leslie Flatt (Dom) and eleven grandchildren: Cameron and Lauren Starnes; Shelby and Nolan Cate; Delaney Cate; Alyssa, Keith and Kyle Swanson; Rachel, AnnaMarie and Susan Flatt. He is also survived by his sister Elizabeth Collins and by his godchild Rebecca Davis (Robert) and their son Jonathan.
Our family is grateful for the friends, students and colleagues who enriched Tommy’s life. We also wish to express our thanks for the loving care Tommy received from Eagle’s Trace Bayou
Vista Community and from Silverado Hospice. Tributes to his life of service may be made to a charity of your choice or to Alzheimer’s Association; 225 N. Michigan Ave.; Chicago, IL 60601.