"We don't really have the words to express what Dr. Van (dubbed "my cabin great-grandpa" by Charlie Fisher) meant to us. Can't quite believe yet he is gone. Dr. Van, we love you so much and you will live in our hearts forever. We are wearing IU gear in your honor tonight. "Life is short, go fast." All our love, Amy, Doug, Charlie and Robert Fisher"
In loving memory of
Charles Van Tassel,
December 31, 1969 - December 31, 1969
Charles J. Van Tassel, Jr., M.D. passed away January 4, 2012 after a long and courageous battle with prostate cancer. Dr. Charlie Van Tassel was a dynamic individual dedicated to his family, his profession and Indiana University. He lived a long and productive life and was always fully engaged. His was a life well lived.
First and foremost, Charlie Van Tassel was a loving and devoted husband to Marjorie Jane Little Van Tassel. They celebrated 65 years of marriage before Marge passed away on September 9, 2009. Together they forged many long lasting relationships and created wonderful memories. He was also a wonderful father and role model to his two children, James W. Van Tassel, M.D. and Cynthia Van Tassel Yeo, who most regrettably preceded him in death on December 30, 2008. He is survived by his son, Jim and his wife Liz, and Cynthia?s husband, Thomas S. Yeo; grandchildren, Charlie Yeo and wife Stacey, along with Will and Vivian (great grand children), Ted Yeo, Betsy Yeo, Carrie Van Tassel Fulkerson and husband Christopher, James Van Tassel and Lauren Van Tassel who will all miss their ?Vandad? and ?Granddad? and are lucky to have years of time spent with him.
Charlie was born April 1, 1922 in Indianapolis. He attended Shortridge High School (1940) where he met his wife, Marge. He graduated from Wesleyan University in Middleton, CT (1943) where he was a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity and then attended IU Medical School (1946). Charlie completed residencies in Pathology and Surgery at St. Vincent Hospital and Urology at IU Medical School. He started his career in the military as Chief of Urology at Camp Cooke, California and Camp Atterbury, Indiana. His private practice in urology started in 1953 with James F. Balch, Sr. where he maintained an office at the Hume Mansur Building until 1972. He then started the practice Van Tassel-Holland Urology with Trey Holland, M.D. until they joined Associated Urologists, Inc. He retired in 1998. Dr. Van Tassel helped make history at St. Vincent Hospital. He was a key part of the move from the original location of St. Vincent at Fall Creek to 86th Street. He served as Chairman of Urology for 30 years and during his tenure as President of the Medical Staff and Chairman of the Executive Committee, he helped facilitate the start of the cardiac surgery program at St. Vincent with Drs. Joseph Finneran and Harris Schumacker.
Dr. Van Tassel has always had a keen interest in students of the medical profession. Though he has received many awards, some of which are noted below, he would tell you that he is very proud of helping and mentoring young doctors over the years. Many will remember the annual house staff event that he and Marge hosted for many years at the Van Tassel?s cabin in Brown County where each would receive a gift of a Christmas tree and dinner at the Nashville House. Dr. Van Tassel?s dedication to medical students is reflected in thirty plus years of service on the IU Medical School Admissions Committee and his years of service as a Clinical Professor of Urology at the IU Medical Center. He received the American Medical Association?s Physician Recognition Award three times, the Otis R. Bowen Distinguished Leadership Award (1995), the Indiana University Distinguished Alumni Award (1996), the St. Vincent Distinguished Physician Award (1997), and the J. O. Ritchey Award from the J.O. Ritchey Society of the Indiana School of Medicine (2009). Dr. Van Tassel will be remembered for advocating quality care for patients, improvement in techniques for treating disease, obtaining necessary hospital equipment, and promoting the selection of qualified students for the medical profession.
Other clubs and organizations have also benefitted from his generosity of spirit and humor. The Junto of Indianapolis call ?Chickie? their own and granted him Emeritus status in 2004 after 40 years of membership. He was a charter member of the Crooked Stick Golf Club and a member of the Woodstock Country Club in Indianapolis. He and his wife Marge enjoyed playing golf throughout their years together. Charlie?s favorite round was at Crooked Stick in the 1970's when he shot a 79. He also had one hole in one! The older he got the shorter and faster his swing became but he was still a joy to play with and watch. He loved his annual Peyronie?s tournament which he started in 1984 with the help of Blackie, Dewey and Glenn. Charlie also became an avid fly fisherman and enjoyed his annual trips out west with close friends.
As a younger man he was an accomplished sailor.
But anyone who knew Charlie Van Tassel, knows that he developed a deep and life long love of Indiana University. He and his wife Marge supported Indiana University Athletics and the Indiana University Foundation for many years. They were long time season ticket holders and loyal attendees at basketball and football games and numerous other Indiana University functions. They were generous contributo
Tributes
"Growing up I knew Dr. Van Tassel as the doctor with the bow tie. As an adult I got to know him as C V T, Chickie, or just Charlie. Being the consummate entertainer with grand stories and vivid details only added to his go-go lifestyle.And he juggled that with being a great physician as well !! Never a loss for words. Yet, if so....there was that _ _ _ damn it! Thanks for the wonderful memories and proud to be part of your circle of friends."
"Charlie was a great teacher and great mentor to young physicians. He was helpful with advice, guidance and his friendship. The obituary says it all, just a great, great man. His loyalty to Indiana University was unmatched. But, he and Marge are together again. What a great team they made. "
"Charlie was a great friend from Shortridge on to being myurologist. He was truly a wonderful guy that everyone loved and admired. He will be missed and never forgotten. "
"Dr. VanTassel was one of the great. He was a physician, mentor and friend to so many of us at St. Vincent. I still remember going to his tree farm in the 1980's to have a Christmas party and pick out a tree, and his words of encouragement over the years."
"Dr Van Tassel was a very caring man, always so good to his patients. He will be missed."
"Jim, Liz, Tom: As did everyone, I loved Charlie . I have some stories that only Charlie and I know what about what we did to save some patients. He was a great man and a great physician. I feel very privileged to have known him and shared patients with him. He will be missed.Blessings to you all."
"It was an honor to care for someone who has cared for others as Dr. Van Tassel.; a pleasure to make him comfortable in his last days and hours. "
"Charlie was a great person, physician and bluegill fisherman. I was proud to call him my friend. He had almost as much fun recounting his fishing misadventures as he did catching fish. Stories about his stepping into the boat and breaking all his rods which were on the bottom had us all laughing as much as he laughed at himself. As he got older, Charlie's balance was not as good as it once was. Getting into and out of a boat was a challenge and resulted in many inadvertent immersions which fortunately were usually in shallow water. These events were always recalled later with great humor, usually over a glass of some adult beverage or at an I.U. football tailgate. My times fishing with Charlie or tying some flies for him were a fun part of my life which I will always remember."
"I shall never forget his kindnesses to my husband, the late Dr. Robert J. Healey."
"Charlie was one of a kind. His friendship was generous. His backswing was faster than " Zorro's sword." His loyalty and devotion to IU was never failing. We who benefited from his loyal support of IU will always be grateful. I will take his whistle and blow it one more time in his memory."
"Doc ( as we Robbins') always referred to him by, was a dear blessed friend to our Dad and our family. Dad looked forward to Doc's weekend with the Christmas trees and all his staff, family and friends. It thrilled him to help them pick out just the right tree! He enjoyed spending time with Doc and Marge as well as Mom enjoyed making the persimmon pudding for them and getting to chat with them. As the years passed Dad enlisted the help of John Evans and Ruth Ellen and after Dad passed to Heaven, John took over the tree " weekend". Unfortunately, John passed in 06, and our helping with the trees also passed with him. We missed seeing Doc and the " family" every year. We feel like losing Doc and Marge is like losing a part of our Family. They are missed.............................Carolyn Robbins, Ruth Ellen Evans, John in spirit, Kasey, Maggie, and Debbie Larsh"
"Charlie was great to work with over all these years. He will be dearly missed by many people. Our prayers and wishes are with his family."
"Dear Liz and Jim,We sadly never got the opportunity to know Charlie, other than spotting him at Lauren's soccer games, but we know how much you loved him and how greatly he will be missed. He left an incredible legacy, most importantly that of his family who I know he must have been incredibly proud of, as they are of him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all."
"Charlie was a long-term tax client of our firm. The relationship was a long and enjoyable one for all of us that had the priveledge of working with him. Charlie would come in for his annual spanking from the IRS toting numerous pages of hopeful deductions for all his activities with Indiana University, only to be rejected by the dreded AMT tax. But that didn't stop Charlie from trying year after year. I will miss him."
"As you are well aware, there will never be another Charlie. The world has lost a wonderful human being, and we have lost a treasured friend - our deepest sympathies to you all..."
"We always enjoyed our times spent with "Chickie". He was always full of intelligent & funny stories. I kept his machete sharp so he could work on his farm in Bean Blossom. Thanks for the memories."
"Dr. Van Tassel's family has my deepest sympathy. He was always so kind and gracious whenever I saw him. I loved his smile."
"Dr. Van Tassel was my physician over so many years. I began seeing him at age 8 years and continued well into my adult years. He saved my life and continued to watch over me for many years. I loved it when he would visit me in the hospital and I would hear his booming voice coming down the hall. Last time I saw Dr. Van Tassel was at at IU basketball game, which I know he loved so very much, as I do.He was such a special individual and feel so very blessed to have known him. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. God bless all of you. Judy Rodocker"
"Charlie Vantassel saved my dads life from prostate cancer plain and simple. He took charge as he did so well and my father lived another 15 years not dying from the cancer.I also got to enjoy the cabin in Nashville as a resident.I spent time in my training in his office to pick up the ART of medicine. He imparted that to me and others. I did get the benefit of both a Nashville house dinner and a Christmas tree when in my training. One year I could not find the right tree. So I asked Doc if I could cut off the top of one of the huge trees. He said OK and I shinnied up the treee and cut off the top for a beautiful tree. He laughed the whole way I was going up the tree.A great MAN"
"Ron and I send our deepest sympathy at the passing of Dr. Van Tassel. Ron and I will always remember his mentoring of housestaff. We will also remember with fondness and thanks of the wonderful times spent with him and Mrs. Van Tassel in Nashville at their cabin where they treated us to dinner and selecting a Christmas tree from their farm."
"Jim: Your dad was more of a role model to me than a friend. He was a friend to my dad, and their friendship endured for decades (even tho they went separate ways for awhile when my dad went to Purdue). If Dad were here on earth, he'd be sending his best to you, as do I. Charlie was a good, good man."