Thomas Leicht

Dr. Thomas (Tom) Leicht, 81, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 20, 2015 in his home in Tulsa, OK. His children were blessed to spend his last days with him, at his bedside. Tom was born on April 27, 1933 to the late Fred and Kathryn (Stern) Leicht in Green Bay, WI. He graduated from West High School and went on to get his Medical Degree from University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1958. Tom served his medical internship at the Presbyterian Hospital in Denver, CO (1958-59) and his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Wisconsin (1959-1962). While at UW-Madison, Tom met and married Joan Rosen. Together they raised 3 daughters, Kathryn Gogolakis, Barbara Leicht, and Susan Romanus. Although later divorced, Joan and Tom shared their love for their three daughters and their families. A recurrent theme of his life was service to the community. In this regard, after two years in solo practice in Green Bay, Tom, along with three other physicians, started the Beaumont Clinic where he built a reputation of being a patient listener and gifted physician. While at the clinic, he volunteered his services at the Free Clinic on his afternoon off. In addition,...[more]

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served as a missionary in Ethiopia where he provided much needed medical services. He was a man whose love of God and family led him to follow his passion of "whole person patient care." His passion for treating the mind, body and spirit and approaching dying with dignity laid the foundation for hospice programs nationwide. In this regard, he studied under Dr. Cecily Saunders, M.D. at St. Christopher's Hospice, London, England in 1976. He also served under Chaplain Ray Harris at the UCLA Medical Center in 1977, working with terminally ill patients. While serving, he was an Adjunct Professor in the School of Psychology at Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, teaching a course on the care of terminally ill. He became Medical Director of the Bellin Hospice in 1977, the first comprehensive Hospice in the US offering inpatient, home care and bereavement services. It is fitting that he utilized the hospice services he was so instrumental in establishing in the late 70's, to complete his own life journey. Tom completed his medical career practicing at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, CA. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving as an elder in the church for many years. He was an avid gardener and loved spending time with his family at the Leicht cottage on Boot Lake. He was a wonderful father who always had time to listen, never judged, and patiently offered advice. Tom is survived by his daughters and their families: Kathryn (Steve) Gogolakis and their children David, Anna and Jonathan; Barbara Leicht and her son Alex, Susan Romanus and her children Sarah, Andrew and Makayla; former wife Joan Leicht, sister-in-law Nancy Leicht, niece Julie (Jim) Paulson and their children Grace and Emma. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, brother Theodore Leicht , his dear Aunt Louise (Bu) Stern, Uncle Eugene (Gene) Leicht and Aunt Margaret Leicht, cousin Russell Leicht, and other aunts, uncles and cousins. Visitation will be held from 9:00 until 11:00 Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at First Presbyterian Church, 200 South Ashland Avenue, Green Bay with the funeral service taking place at 11:00 am with Dr. Rev. Randal Argall officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial funds have been established for First Presbyterian Church, Green Bay, WI and St. Francis Hospice, Tulsa, OK. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of St. Francis Hospice for their loving and compassionate care.