Thomas Leonard March M.D.

Dr. Thomas Leonard March, 90, passed away peacefully at home on October 7, 2021, surrounded by the love of his family following complications from a hip fracture. Tom lived a life filled with limitless love for his family, relentless dedication to the practice of medicine and to personal integrity. Tom was a conscientious and humble man with a heart of gold. He had an easy, comforting presence and an unmistakable laugh that lifted spirits and produced smiles from everyone around him. Family was always Tom’s first priority and he loved us all equally, unconditionally and generously, sharing his affection through ways both small and large. He always took the time and interest to listen and dispense his much respected words of wisdom and guidance. He and his wife, Fran, made their home a haven for their children, grandchildren and extended family. He loved family gatherings and never missed an opportunity to support and cheer us on. Among friends, Tom was steadfast, reliable and loyal. He remained close to friends from high school, college and medical school. He was one of the original crew who played Sunday tennis for decades at the Winter Park Racquet Club. On the courts, Tom was easily recognized for his floppy white hat, steady game and ready wit. Bridge nights and fishing trips rounded out the fun and produced treasured and lasting friendships. In later years, he would enjoy weekly lunches with his pals, working out and socializing at the Y, and leading the “Tom and the Gang” trivia team at the Racquet Club. Tom was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on July 19, 1931, the eldest son of Grace Elizabeth and Leonard Henry March. He attended primary and secondary schools within walking distance of his family home and spent his childhood weekends playing stick ball and taking the train into New York City to see movies or New York Giants baseball games at the Polo Grounds. Although shy in his adolescent years, Tom found his stride and was the first person in his family to graduate from college. Tom discovered his intellectual capacity at St. Peter’s College, a Jesuit Catholic institution, where he graduated summa cum laude in 1953. He met the love of his life, Frances Heron, the following summer while working on the beaches of Prouts Neck in Scarborough, Maine. They were married in 1956. Tom went to medical school at New York Medical College where he graduated as the top student in his 1957 graduating class and was selected for inclusion in the national medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha. After internship and one year of residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, Tom, Fran, and their two oldest children headed to Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines to serve out his military draft deferment. Upon their return in late 1961, Tom and his family settled across the George Washington Bridge in Ridgefield, NJ while he commuted into NYC to complete his residency in Radiology at New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident. With their budding family in tow, he and Fran moved to Winter Park which he affectionately referred to as “paradise” for its warm weather and unique sense of community. Tom joined an established radiology practice, which became Drs. Morgan, Hiatt, Hines, Culbert and March, PA. This practice grew to include fourteen physicians that provided diagnostic medical imaging services for several local hospitals, principally Winter Park Memorial and Princeton Hospitals, where he was a member of the Board of Trustees and served as President of the Medical Staff. He was a gifted and highly respected physician and radiologist, one of the first one hundred physicians certified by the American Board of Nuclear Medicine. He often recalled his early professional days with immense pride and joy, collaborating with his fellow physicians, technicians and nurses during “a golden age of radiology” and the invention of the CT scan, which he felt revolutionized the profession, and later MRI technology. He gave back to his profession throughout his career as a member of the Orange County Medical Society, the Florida Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the Florida Radiological Society, the American College of Radiology, The Radiological Society of North America and the American Roentgen Ray Society. In his personal life, Tom was a life-long Catholic and member of St. Margaret Mary Church since 1964. He was a member of the Winter Park Racquet Club for over fifty years, acting as Club President in 1973. He gave back to his community as a founding member of the Winter Park YMCA and as a discreet philanthropist in support of local art and culture. He enjoyed attending and supported our local Broadway, Symphony and Philharmonic series. Tom was a voracious reader and a lifelong learner. He audited history classes at UCF for several years after his retirement, followed sports, especially his beloved Giants (football and baseball). He was a Tampa Bay Bucs and Orlando Magic original season ticket holder and enjoyed many a game with family and friends. He loved traveling with Fran, and always relished planning out perfect trips throughout Europe and Asia. He was sharp to the end, certainly due to his ongoing curiosity, love of reading, daily Orlando Sentinel and New York Times crossword puzzles, nightly Jeopardy shows and trivia games. Even in his eighties, he was the man to beat at the monthly Racquet Club trivia nights. Tom’s unselfish and integrity-driven life set an example for the many generations that follow him. Tom depended on his Catholic faith throughout his life, especially at the end. He often said that in another life he would have wanted to be a baseball player or sports announcer. But in this life, he was just what his family, friends and community needed him to be: a great loving man and physician who gave much and expected little in return. He is predeceased by his parents, his brother, Donald Charles March, his daughter, Karin March Jones, and his son in-law, William Davis Jones, He is survived by his adored wife of 65 years, Frances Heron March; children David March, Ellen March Reckmeyer, Peter March, and Susan March; grandchildren Bradford March (Lauren), Tyler March (Katie), Dylan March, Culbreth Jones Ferla (Joe), Deaton Jones, Rohde Reckmeyer, Jack Henry Reckmeyer and Cameron March; great grand-children Jude Thomas Ferla and Opal Ann March, numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws and many friends. Special thanks and love to all the doctors, nurses & caregivers, and his daughter-in-law, Rev. Amanda March, for the spiritual peace and comfort she provided to Tom in his final days. A Memorial Mass in celebration of his life will be held on Friday, November 12th at 12 pm, St. Margaret Mary Church, 526 N. Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to our local theatre venues, Winter Park Playhouse, Mad Cow Theatre and Orlando Shakes or a local theatre in your home town. The family of Tom March invites you to leave a message of condolence on the Tribute Wall created in his loving memory.

Thomas Leonard March M.D.

July 19, 1931 - October 7, 2021