[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6961]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            IN MEMORY OF EAST BAY DENTIST DR. THOMAS CURTIS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 20, 2007

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I would like to make a few remarks in 
memory of Dr. Thomas Curtis DDS who passed away on February 17, 2007. 
Dr. Curtis was a World War II veteran who led a life of service to both 
his country and the bay area community in which he lived. During the 
war, Dr. Curtis served in the Army's 10th Mountain Division and fought 
in the Italian theatre. He was awarded two Purple hearts, the Bronze 
Star, and the Silver Star for his heroic actions.
  After the war, Dr. Curtis enrolled at UC Berkeley and eventually 
graduated from UC San Francisco's dentistry school. He joined his 
father's dental practice and was a professor at UCSF until he retired 
in 1991. As an expert in maxillofacial prosthodontics, the 
reconstruction of the upper jaw, Dr. Curtis worked with surgeons to 
design replacements for trauma and cancer patients, allowing them to 
eat and speak again. Dr. Curtis had a passion for helping those in need 
and never turned away a patient that was referred to him even when some 
of those patients could not pay for his services. During the Vietnam 
War, Dr. Curtis volunteered regularly at the Letterman Army Hospital 
treating injured soldiers. He also served on the board of directors of 
the Bay Area Tumor Institute. As chairman of a voluntary organization 
that helped East Bay cancer patients consult with specialists prior to 
surgery to develop strategies for reconstruction before their tumors 
were removed.
  Dr. Thomas Curtis was a healer and a teacher. He defended his country 
in battle, helped heal those in need in his community, and passed down 
his knowledge and experience to his students at the University of 
California, San Francisco. His passing shall be mourned and his 
exemplary service to our country and community remembered.

                          ____________________