Albert Æneas La Londe, M.D., age 93, passed away peacefully at home on April 18, 2011 surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with multiple myeloma. The youngest of eight children, he was born on April 21, 1917 in Denison, Texas. Dr. La Londe lived in the Buda area for a number of years before moving to Austin.
He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1938. He went on to receive his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 1942, where he roomed with Dr. Charles McCormick of Buda, a life-long and close friend. After Galveston, he practiced briefly as a family physician in El Paso. From there he went to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation with a fellowship to specialize in Neurosurgery, and to study under pioneer Neurosurgeon Dr. W. James Gardner. While there, he was the lead author on a pioneering procedure for treating chronic intramembranous subdural hematomas – a procedure that is still used today – and was first published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1948.
In 1949, he returned to Austin as its first board-certified Neurosurgeon. For several years, he was the only Neurosurgeon between Dallas and San Antonio, and on-call at all times. As the only trained Neurologist in Austin, he treated patients with poliomyelitis. In addition, he found time on Saturday mornings to hold neurological clinics to treat patients with problems such as Parkinson’s, and other neurological diseases.
He practiced alone in Austin until 1956, when Dr. Robert C. Farris joined him, forming the Austin Neurosurgical Association. They were then joined by Dr. William Turpin, Dr. Edward Becker, and in 1970, by his longtime partner and closet friend, Dr. Marvin Cressman. He retired from surgery in 2005 at the age of 88, but continued working for the Texas Medical Board reviewing insurance claims with fellow semi-retired physicians until 2007, when he finally decided to retire and relax.
Throughout the years of his long and dedicated career, he has been honored by his peers, local hospitals, and the city of Austin he so loved. He served the Austin community as a physician, selflessly taking care of any patient – regardless of their ability to pay. His contributions to citizens of Austin and central Texas will forever be remembered, appreciated, and not soon forgotten.
A true renaissance man, Albert was not only a physician, but an avid golfer, occasional sportsman, pilot, poet, composer, and talented musician. He will also be fondly remembered for his wonderfully dry and sometimes naughty sense of humor – never letting a day pass without jokes, anecdotes, or daily orders.
He is loved and admired by family, friends and so many colleagues. He will be dearly missed.
He is survived by his children, Carolyn Diane Al-Yafi and her husband Adnan of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Albert Æneas La Londe, Jr. and his wife Toni of Austin, David Parma La Londe of Austin, and Lisa La Londe Hamaker and her husband Will of Mandeville, Louisiana. Albert is survived by ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, many cousins, nieces and nephews, and a multitude of close and dear friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, his wives Carolyn Weatherton and Alice Joyce Parma, his sons Paul Rene and Michael, and granddaughter Courtney Danielle La Londe.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Scott Ream, Drs. Don Davis and Michael Loeb of Texas Orthopedics, Dr. Doudley Youman and his dedicated staff at Texas Oncology, the wonderful and caring people of Hospice Austin, and special debt of thanks to granddaughter Nessim Al-Yafi who has spent the last nine months caring daily for her grandfather with love, kindness, compassion, and selfless dedication.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Hospice Austin.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at St. Austin Catholic Church with Reverend Steven A. Bell, CSP officiating.
