July 27, 2017

Susan E. Caudle, associate professor, Psychology Section, Department of Pediatrics died July 21, 2017 at the age of 50.

Dr. Caudle joined Texas Children’s Hospital in 1999 as an intern in Psychology. She received her Ph.D. in August 2000 and went on to complete her fellowship in Neuropsychology at Texas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Caudle was hired as a neuropsychologist at Texas Children’s in September 2001 and was appointed to the Baylor College of Medicine faculty in 2005. Dr. Caudle was an outstanding Pediatric Neuropsychologist who developed a rare specialty in the neuropsychology of hearing loss and patients undergoing cochlear implantation. Dr. Caudle also worked closely with medical teams caring for children in need of liver and heart transplants. She was a consummate team player and gifted teacher as well as a good friend and exceptional colleague throughout her career. She will be sorely missed.

Dr. Caudle is survived by her husband, Don Caudle; two daughters, Analise and Sophia; sister, Sarah Bodak; mother, Joan Bodak; and a host of relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Lawrence Bodak.

There will be a memorial/remembrance service from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 30, at the A.D. Bruce Religion Center, University of Houston, in Houston, Texas. Memorial gifts in Sue’s memory can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at https://tinyurl.com/SusanCaudleDonation. Donations will be used to advance research, support patients, and create hope for those fighting pancreatic cancer.

June 13, 2017

Molly Mae LeBlanc, daughter of Texas Children’s employees Jill and Andy LeBlanc, passed away at Texas Children’s on May 6, 2017. Molly was diagnosed with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD) prior to her birth. She battled her kidney and liver disease valiantly and spent much time being cared for at Texas Children’s by many different services and members of our health care team. Molly was a beloved member of the Texas Children’s family and will forever be remembered as an exemplary model of hope and love.

Jill and Andy have chosen Texas Children’s as the beneficiary of donations made in Molly’s memory. The monetary gifts received will be used to benefit the child life program and to establish a nursing scholarship in Molly’s name. Donations may be directed to Texas Children’s Hospital, Office of Development, Suite 5214 PO Box 300630, Houston, Texas 77230-0630. Please specify that the donation is in memory of Molly Mae LeBlanc.

You may also submit your donation online by clicking here. Specify donation amount and type. Under gift designation, click “other.” Under my gift info, click “in memory of,” then type in “Molly Mae LeBlanc.” Complete the online form by entering your contact and payment information. If you have any questions about making a donation, contact giving@texaschildrens.org  or call ext. 4-6806.

Also, please join us for Kendra Gives Back Party from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 15, in Rice Village at 2411 Times Boulevard, Suite 120, Houston, TX 77005. Twenty percent of the proceeds will benefit Texas Children’s Hospital for The Molly Mae LeBlanc Nursing Scholarship.

March 21, 2017

Lois Gabriel, Clinical Product Coordinator role in Supply Chain, died March 13, 2017 at the age of 71 after an extended illness.

Lois joined Texas Children’s Hospital May 15, 1978. She worked for many years as a nurse manager in the Texas Children’s Newborn Center. In later years of her career she moved in to the Clinical Product Coordinator role in Supply Chain before retiring in 2014.

For those that knew her she was a gem with such a calming presence and a mentor and friend to many. Lois is truly missed.

Please keep her son and family in your prayers.

Dr. Gunter K. von Noorden, former chief and founder of Texas Children’s Hospital Ophthalmology, passed away February 18, 2017, at the age of 88. He was known as one of the “fathers of pediatric ophthalmology” for his contributions to strabismus surgery and overall leadership in the field for more than 40 years.

Von Noorden committed his entire career to the study and treatment of strabismus and amblyopia. He was a pioneer researcher in the area of visual neurophysiology and transferred those new discoveries in strabismic and anisometropic amblyopia into improved clinical care. Through his relentless efforts and inspiration, ophthalmologists worldwide acquired new knowledge and understanding in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus.

“Dr. von Noorden made Texas Children’s Hospital Ophthalmology Division what it is today,” said Chief of Ophthalmology Dr. David Coats. “His contributions to the hospital will forever be remembered and appreciated.”

Born in Germany in 1928, von Noorden’s family moved to Berlin in 1937. This had a profound impact on his life – exposing him to Adolf Hitler’s dictatorship and Nazi propaganda. Following his involvement in Battle of Berlin in 1945 and the end of WWII, von Noorden was determined to dedicate his life to healing others, and he worked his way through medical school at the Johann-Wolfgang Goethe University.

Von Noorden began his medical career as a resident at the University of Iowa in 1957, which was followed by a fellowship at the University of Tuebingen Eye Clinic in Germany. He then returned to the University of Iowa, spending two years as an assistant professor of ophthalmology. In 1963, von Noorden became a professor at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. In 1972, he moved to Houston to direct the Ocular Motility Service at Baylor College of Medicine.

Von Noorden was a professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics at Baylor, chief of the Ophthalmology Service at Texas Children’s Hospital, and adjunct professor of Neuroscience at the University of Texas at Houston from 1972 to 1995. Following an interval of retirement and appointment as professor emeritus, he rejoined the Baylor faculty as professor of Ophthalmology in July 2006, until resigning in October 2008. The Board of Trustees of Baylor then appointed von Noorden Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Ophthalmology in December 2008.

Von Noorden was charter member and former president of the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology (AAPOS), the International Strabismological Association (ISA), and the American Orthoptic Council (AOC). He also served as former president of the American Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

In his lifetime, he published 310 scientific papers and authored four books, including Ocular Motility and Binocular Vision: Theory and Management of Strabismus. The book has been heralded as the “gold-standard text for ocular motility disorders.”

Von Noorden presented 21 named lectures worldwide and received numerous awards. His many honors included the Jackson Lecturer (American Academy of Ophthalmology – AAO), Bowman Lecturer (British Ophthalmological Society), Costenbader Lecturer (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus – AAPOS), first Bielschowsky Lecturer (International Strabismological Association – ISA), Proctor Lecturer (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology), and Ticho Lecturer (Israel Society of Ophthalmology).

He received the Franceschetti-Liebrecht-Award from the German Ophthalmological Society in 1984 and, in 1996, was awarded an honorary doctorate of medicine and surgery from the University of Bologna. In 2015, von Noorden was inducted in the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Hall of Fame as being “truly unique in his field and the ultimate triple threat: outstanding clinician, world-renowned teacher and author, and incredibly productive research scientist, highlighted by his path finding studies on the neuropathology of amblyopia.”

March 7, 2017

Morris Shreck, EDI coordinator, died unexpectedly November 30, 2016, at the age of 54.

Morris joined Texas Children’s Hospital in December 2002 working in the Transfer Center. He moved to account representative in Business Services and finally as EDI coordinator in the Revenue Cycle Payment Operations.

He was known as a loyal, hardworking and dedicated colleague. Everyone who worked alongside Morris will miss his sense of humor and his conversations about Houston sports teams and college football, especially the Houston Cougars. Morris and his wife of 30 years, Norma (also a Texas Children’s employee), spent much of their free time together travelling to visit their extended family.

Morris is survived by his wife, Norma; step-mother, Winnell Shreck; brothers, Bill Shreck, Jr. and wife Christine, Scott Shreck and wife Maconda; sisters, Kelly Shreck, Melanie Shreck and Fayellen Russell and husband Tony.

To his many extended family and friends, he will be greatly missed.

February 28, 2017

Amy Lucille Rockefeller, BSN, RN, Women’s Services, passed away on February 5, 2017 at the age of 39.

Amy began her career at Texas Children’s on November 28, 2011. She was a member of the inpatient Women’s Services Labor & Delivery team and an intensive care nurse. Amy was passionate about the care she provided for her patients and education/teaching. While an ICU nurse in L&D, she also took on the role of Training Partner. Amy was kind and known for her sense of humor and ability to get along with everyone. While Amy was passionate about her job, her greatest love was her daughter, Lyndsey. Amy was a true friend and will be greatly missed by her team and fellow employees.

Amy is survived by her daughter, Lyndsey; her father, Ralph; her brother, Michael and his wife, Regina; her niece, Julia; and grandmother, Avis Bass.

A Memorial Fund has been established through Wells Fargo Bank, “Amy Rockefeller Memorial” and all proceeds will directly benefit Amy’s daughter, Lyndsey who is a senior in high school this year.

February 14, 2017

21517WalterSowells640Walter Sowells, Human Resources Technician, Human Resources, died February 10 at the age of 39.

Walter began his career at Texas Children’s in December of 1999. He was a member of the Organizational Development team in Human Resources and managed the conference center in the Meyer Building. Walter was a gentle, patient man, known for his sense of humor and ability to get along with everyone. He will be greatly missed by his team and fellow employees.

Walter is survived by two children, Isaiah and Nathan and his wife, Earlisha.

Services:

Saturday, February 18

Trinity Gardens Church of Christ

7725 Sandra Street

Houston, TX  77016

Viewing:

10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Funeral:

11 a.m.

Friends of Walter’s from Texas Children’s Hospital are welcome to attend.