Dr. Jack Sanders memorial unveiled at Campbellton-Graceville Hospital

By Kate McCardell

Published: May 14, 2008

On the lawn in front of Campbellton-Graceville Hospital, a stone memorial to Dr. Jack Sanders now stands, complete with a rendering of the good doctor’s face, his eyes watching over the hospital just as they did when he lived.

A dedication was held Wednesday to unveil the monument honoring the man known by many as “Dr. Jack.”

Sanders died of cancer in 2004, but his legacy lives on in his friends, family and patients, including the approximate 1,500 babies he delivered.

“I believe he was the most brilliant person I’ve ever met in my life,” said Dorothy Peacock, director of nursing at the hospital. “He was always here when we needed him. He wouldn’t leave until we felt safe and the patients were safe. If it took all night, he’d be here all night and the next day.”

Peacock, with tears in her eyes, said Sanders never expected anything back from his patients for the hard work he provided, and that his memory was astounding.

“He knew all the medical problems of his patients, their whole history. Anything you wanted to know about a patient, he could quote you their medications for the last ten years,” said Peacock.

Sanders’ genuine care for his patients may have come his own history of medical struggles.

According to the University of Miami medical alumnus news, Sanders was born with a hare lip and a hole in his palate, among other problems, and underwent surgeries as a child.

The deformities caused difficulties in hearing and speech through a long portion of Sanders’ life, even making it hard for Sanders to get accepted into medical school.

In the 1950’s he transferred from Emory University to the University of Miami’s medical school, where he earned his medical degree.
He returned to his hometown of Graceville where he served the community that over years became his “extended family.”

His love for the community was reciprocated, including the “Dr. Jack E. Sanders Appreciation Day” celebration in 1998.

Former governor Lawton Chiles honored Sanders as a recipient of the Heartland Award.

Sanders apparently never forgot the medical school that accepted him, leaving the UM Miller School of Medicine over $2.1 million for the Bernard J. Fogel M.D. Endowed Chair in Medical Education.

Fogel, dean emeritus of Mill School of Medicine, submitted the following letter to the chair of the dedication committee, Kathleen Turner. It was read at the unveiling ceremony.

“First, I want to thank Kathleen, Jack’s family especially Eddie Register, all of Jack’s patients and friends for inviting me to attend and say a few words at the Monument Dedication Ceremony in honor of Dr. Jack. I am very sorry that the constraints of my schedule and the challenges of making airline arrangements from Washington to Atlanta and Graceville, made my being with you virtually impossible. I also asked Jack’s long-time dear friend and advisor, Mayor Herta Holly to join us. Unfortunately Herta’s schedule in the middle of the May made it equally difficult for her to be with you today.”

“I asked Kathleen to read what I would be saying if I were with you today. All of you know that Dr. Jack was absolutely unique, a genuine one of a kind. All of you also are familiar with his story and how he overcame every challenge that ever confronted him with the exception of the last one, when he became ill. He probably cared for everyone in attendance today. He delivered some of your children, played psychiatrist to others, helped out as your friend and gave advice on the stock market, and socialized with everyone in Graceville and beyond. The hospital would not be here if it were not for him. He gave it life. He was truly a man for all seasons.”

“Jack graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine the year I entered Medical School in 1957. We got to know each other years later as fellow alumni. When he came to Miami, we would talk at Alumni functions and found that we had a great deal in common, especially our love for helping others, and if I am allowed to say, a strong political kinship.”

“One day in the late ‘90s he came to the medical school with Herta and told us he wanted to leave his portfolio investments to us; specifically the Dean’s Office, by endowing a Chair to make sure young physicians in training were given the best education possible by a School which he loved dearly. He really believed in the power of the Dean’s Office. He respected it and knew we would use his hard earned money wisely, and that he was making a ‘good investment.”

“Several years later when he executed his will, just before his passing, I was shocked and honored that such an extraordinary human being would honor himself and family by naming a Chair to educate the best of brightest young physicians in my name.”

“Everyone here knows how caring Jack was. All of you know he probably was a genius. What I know, having watched him firsthand, is that with just medical school training (four years), and one year of internship in Chicago, his skills were equal to the very best professors and scholars in any medical school.”
“All of us were all very blessed. For me, I am very grateful that two individuals (Jack and I), with such different backgrounds would establish a wonderful common bond.”“Again, thank you for inviting me and including me. I have sent Kathleen a couple of wonderful written articles about Jack that hopefully will add to your fond memories of our mutual friend. The University of Miami School of Medicine is proud to have provided a plaque honoring a person that we all are very proud of. I am honored to have my name on an endowed Chair that will permit Jack’s legacy as a ‘Dear and Glorious Physician’ to live on forever in a very noble profession.”

Thank you Kathleen,

Bernard J. Fogel, M.D.

Dean Emeritus

Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami