[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 18, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H2426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF DR. SAMUEL MAGEE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great 
sadness to remember the life of my friend, Dr. Sam Magee, who 
unexpectedly passed away this past weekend.
  An exemplary surgeon, Dr. Magee dedicated his life to serving his 
patients and our Blair County community.
  Sam, as the son of an Altoona surgeon, proudly carried forth his 
family tradition. Most recently, Dr. Magee cared for American veterans 
as the chief of staff of the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center. In 
this new role, Dr. Magee was an instrumental partner in the launch of 
my Homegrown Health Care initiative, which aims to reverse the doctor 
shortage in rural communities.
  Dr. Sam Magee was a champion for solutions to tough problems. 
Together, we shared a mission to improve Pennsylvanians' access to 
quality healthcare, regardless of ZIP Code.
  In addition to his work at the VA, Dr. Magee spent more than 35 years 
practicing in Altoona, Pennsylvania, saving lives and improving our 
local healthcare. My family and I personally came to experience his 
great skills.

  As both a fellow Altoona native, and Penn State and Temple Medical 
School graduates, Dr. Magee and I shared so much in common. More than a 
colleague, I considered him a very dear friend.
  As we remember his life and his legacy, I also give thanks for his 
meaningful contributions to his patients, to our community, and to our 
medical profession. Even in sorrow, we celebrate Dr. Magee's life and 
his indelible contributions to the world.
  I extend my deepest sympathy to his wife, Bunny; their children, Rich 
and Katie, along with their spouses, Desiree and Michael; their beloved 
grandchildren; and their extended family.
  Additionally, I extend my condolences to Dr. Magee's many patients 
and to the veteran community that he served with such dedication. This 
is a profound loss for our medical community, our veteran community, 
and our community at large.

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