CHARLES ABDO, JR., MD

Dr. Charles Joseph “CJ” Abdo, Jr., 85, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and resident of Las Vegas for 51 years, passed away peacefully at home with his loving wife, Ruth, by his side, August 26, 2018. CJ was born August 31, 1932, in New Orleans, the eldest of two children, to Charles Joseph Abdo, Sr. and Hazel Boyle Abdo. His parents were pharmacists and owned Abdo’s Drug Store in Kenner, Louisiana. CJ graduated from Holy Cross High School in 1950, a premier college preparatory Catholic school for young men. He lettered in football and wrestling and made lifelong friends at Holy Cross. After spending time with their families, he was inspired to have a large family himself. Dr. Abdo attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and transferred to Loyola University of New Orleans studying pre-med. He graduated Louisiana State University School of Medicine in 1959 and served his internship and residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He was chief resident his senior year, was awarded a one year fellowship in pathology and was an otolaryngology (ENT) faculty member at LSU instructing students and residents. Dr. Abdo also supervised the prestigious Julius Lempert Temporal Bone Laboratory. He was commissioned as a Captain in the U.S. Army in 1961 stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He served in a MASH Army Evacuation Hospital Unit during the Berlin crisis and Vietnam eras until he received an honorable discharge. Dr. Abdo was a pioneer in otolaryngology in Nevada, performing the first successful stapes surgery for the restoration of hearing, among others. At Sunrise Hospital, he was instrumental in obtaining surgical privileges for facial plastic surgery for qualified otolaryngologists in 1972 and served as Secretary of Staff and Chief of Otolaryngology. He was highly regarded by his colleagues and patients known for his gentle manner. He practiced ENT for more than 45 years with a passion for voice and hearing disorders retiring in 2011. In the summer of 1949 before his senior year in high school, CJ met the love of his life, Ruth Mince. CJ and Ruth married December 28, 1957, in Kenner, Louisiana. Ruth and CJ moved to Las Vegas in 1967 with their seven children, ages 1 to 8. The children were raised in their longtime family home on Ashby Avenue, a place of many warm memories for those near and dear. CJ and Ruth discovered their love of Lake Tahoe in 1968. Lake Tahoe remains the family’s home away from home and continues to be enjoyed by their children and grandchildren. He was an avid reader and an early adopter of modern technology, often leading the way for his children. He had a passion for the outdoors, enjoying many activities including boating, skiing, hiking, running, rafting, fishing, traveling, sports and more. CJ was an honorable, intelligent and kind man. He was devoted to his Catholic faith. He instilled in his children and grandchildren a strong work ethic and the importance of quality family time. He was most proud of his seven children and fifteen grandchildren. He’s preceded in death by his parents; and his beloved eldest son and namesake, Jay. CJ is survived by Ruth, his wife, of 60 years; his children, Adrienne (Bob) Duran, of Pasadena, California, Laus (Teresa) Abdo, Allison (Tim) Wojciechowski, Laurie Abdo (Don Purdue), all of Las Vegas, Ashley Abdo, of Boulder, Colorado, Amy Abdo (Chris Matthews), of Paradise Valley, Arizona; his grandchildren, Austin, Brandon, Caylan, Hunter, Addison, Landry, Madeline, Grace, Gloriana, Jenny, Zac, Zoie, Austin, Rylee and Evy; and his sister, Linda (Buddy) Roberts, of Canton, Mississippi, their sons, Brandon (Erica) and Clayton (Katie); and many other nieces and nephews. Celebration Mass of CJ’s life will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 22, at Our Lady of Las Vegas Roman Catholic Church, 3050 Alta Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89107. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to Holy Cross High School in memory of Charles J. Abdo, Jr., class of 1950, at 5500 Paris Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70122, 504-942-3100, www.holycrosstiger s.com\apps\pages\memorialgiving; or to Project 150 at Brady Caipa Volunteer Center, 3600 N. Rancho Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130, 702-721-7150, https://www. project150.org/donate/ in memory of Charles J. Abdo, Jr.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

-2 Timothy 4:7