Donald "Don" H. Gaylor, MD
Captain Donald ‘Don' H. Gaylor, MD, 94, of Salisbury Twp., passed away April 8, 2021 with family by his side while under hospice care at South Mountain Memory Care in Emmaus, PA due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.
He was a resident of Allentown, PA for 46 years prior to his stay at SMMC. He was the husband of Joan W. Gaylor, the love of his life, for 66 years prior to her death in January, 2015.
Born in Brooklyn, NY on April 17, 1926, he was the son of the late Norman H. Gaylor and Frances (Hughes) Gaylor. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 at the age of 17 and attended the University of Rochester (NY) and upon graduation in 1945, he entered the University of Rochester Medical School, graduating in 1949. It was in Rochester that he met his future wife, Joan, who was attending the Strong Memorial Nursing School. Since it was forbidden that nursing school students be married, their marriage remained a secret until they both graduated as did their wedding date until she passed away and the truth was revealed.
He completed a one-year rotation at the U.S. Naval Hospital Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, PA followed by attendance at the School of Aviation Medicine as a student flight surgeon in Pensacola, FL, graduating in 1951. He spent two years in Trinidad, British West Indies, as a flight surgeon prior to his general surgical residency at the US Naval Hospital in St. Albans, NY. He also completed a surgical fellowship at the Royal Victoria Hospital at Gil University in Montreal, Canada. He received his thoracic and cardiovascular surgery training at the US Naval Hospital in St. Albans, Queens, NY, and St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, NY, respectively. Through his naval career, he was a thoracic surgeon at the US Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA. He was a staff surgeon on the USS Enterprise at port in the Mediterranean Sea. Upon his return, he was appointed Chief of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the US Naval Hospital, National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD until 1968 when he was assigned Chief of Surgery and Chief Executive Officer of the USS Repose from 1968-1969 during the Vietnam War. During this time, he was promoted to Captain of the U.S. Navy.
Upon his return, he became Chief Executive Officer of the Naval Medical School in Bethesda, MD until 1972 when he retired after serving in the Navy for 29 years. He was recruited by Leonard Parker Pool, of Air Products, to come to Allentown, PA to serve as chairman of the Department of Surgery at the Allentown Hospital Association and then later named Chief of Surgery of Sacred Heart Hospital. In July, 1974, he was named as Chairman of the Department of Surgery the newly formed Allentown and Sacred Heart Hospital Center, (Lehigh Valley Hospital Center). Through his efforts, the LVHC site became Pennsylvania's first state-designated trauma center. He also aided the Hospital's open heart surgery program in becoming one of the largest in the state.
He was a founding director and co-medical Director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services Council as well as a founding member of the American Trauma Society and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He was also a member of the Medical Advisory Committee of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council and past president of the Pennsylvania Division of the American Trauma Society. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He was a member of the AMA, Pennsylvania Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons and Association of Hospital Medical Education.
He enjoyed deep sea fishing with his sons off the
Ocean City, MD coast as well as summer visits to Ocean Pines, MD with visits from his children and grandchildren. He was a devoted husband and caring father as well as a devout Catholic who supported his Church wholeheartedly. He was also a ‘cat' person, sharing this love with his wife. He always enjoyed a good dessert, either ice cream or chocolate. He was a past member of the Allentown Rotary and Serra Club.
He is survived by his children, Timothy Gaylor (Diana) of Bethlehem, PA, Susan Snyder (Mark) of Emmaus, PA, Steven Gaylor (Jeannie) of Preston, MD and Christopher Gaylor (Christine) of Sykesville, MD, nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, sister Janet Kiegal, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, David Gaylor.
Services: Mass of Christian Burial 12 PM Thursday,
April 15, 2021 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church,
1040 Flexer Ave., Allentown, PA 18103. A viewing will take place from 11 AM-12 PM Thursday in the church. Interment to follow in Resurrection Cemetery, 547 Krocks Rd., Allentown. COVID-19 restrictions will be followed. Arrangements by Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Homes, Emmaus, www.BKRFH.com Contributions: to a charity of your choice.
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