Gamil Nassif Takla
Beloved Gamil Nassif Takla, M.D., FRCS, born in Assyut, Egypt to Nassif Younan Takla and Victoria Riskalla Maghar on Sept. 15, 1925. He passed away at the age of 85 on Monday, April 25, 2011, after a courageous three-year battle with quadriplegia. His last hours were attended by family, friends and the caring staff of Legacy Good Samaritan. In a life defined by caring, generosity, volunteering and teaching, Dr. Takla gave so much to so many. Dr. Takla was raised within the Egyptian Coptic community which imbued his character with a strong Christian ethic. A graduate of the British Medical School at Cairo University, he completed his post-graduate training in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he earned the elite `Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.' He met and married French nurse Marie Eve Hoffmeister, while working at the American Mission Hospital in Assyut. They immigrated with two children to Denver in 1961, where a third child was born. The family moved to Portland in 1963 where he evidenced his desire to be an American by satisfying compulsory requirements to repeat his four-year surgical residency at St. Vincent Hospital despite being a FRCS and prior Chief of Surgery at ARAMCO hospital in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Takla received his Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery in 1966, the same year he began what would be a 30-year career serving the Portland area as a general/trauma surgeon and family practitioner. In 1969 he was chosen Portland's First Citizen of the Year "In Recognition of Outstanding Service to the Country of His Choice." He served as a physician to Goodwill Industries for 10 years. He gave one full day to Goodwill a week and was given an Award of Appreciation from Goodwill in 1973 "For Meritorious Service." In 1971 he helped organize emergency medical response systems for the Beaverton Fire Department, Washington County Fire District 1 and Metro West Ambulance Service. He served as volunteer physician advisor to the three agencies for years. He reviewed and authorized paramedics to be operational and set standards and procedures for patient care. In 1977 he received the Beaverton Area of Commerce's J. Arthur Young award "For dedicated service to his community." He was cited for "Initiating and setting up curriculum and training to qualify lay persons in all phases of emergency medical technology. The program, as established by Dr. Takla, is being used nationwide and is qualifying all training students for certification. He gives one full day to training all fire, police and emergency crews in Beaverton." He established a similar training program at St. Vincent Hospital and devoted two evenings a week to this. In 1982 Washington County honored him as one of eight area volunteers for providing "Years of Outstanding Service to the Community. He took on the ominous responsibility of authorizing District No. 1's and Metro West's rescue personnel to perform advanced life support (ALS) functions in the field by allowing his medical license to be the license on record. He donated thousands of hours to ensure our personnel received the necessary training to save the lives of victims of medical emergencies in our District. Due to his commitment, communities throughout Washington County now enjoy one of the finest pre-hospital patient care programs in the country." In 1983, the Washington County Board of Commissioners commended him for his efforts, "It appearing to the Board that the volunteer efforts of Dr. Gamil Takla are reflected in Washington County's ranking among the state leaders in providing quality pre-hospital care to thousands of county citizens, Dr. Takla is highly commended for his outstanding contributions to county pre-hospital ALS." Dr. Takla also served on faculty at OHSU as a volunteer surgical clinical instructor and at St. Vincent Hospital as volunteer teaching staff for surgical residents throughout his career. In 1981, he received a letter from Senator Mark O. Hatfield reading, " With a great deal of interest and pride, I read of your many hours of volunteer work. My thanks and the thanks of many, many others are due you and I want to congratulate you." In his spare time and retirement, Dr. Takla loved to travel and spend time on his farm, sitting on his tractor cutting hay in the sun. He enjoyed tinkering on his 1966 Chevrolet, attending Rotary Club luncheons and hosting family and friends at the Shriner's Circus. He was a devoted Beaverton Rotarian, Shriner and Mason. He volunteered with the Portland Americanization Council, served as president and provided them funding for post ceremonial refreshments when he learned that funding was reduced. He loved to work out at the Multnomah Athletic Club and enjoyed seeing his friends there. Most of all, he cherished time with his family, doting on his grandchildren, enveloping them with love. Known as Tak by his friends, Grandpapa by his grandchildren, and Papi by his children, this man will be remembered forever for his passionate, unyielding love of family and those less fortunate in his community. He is survived by his daughter, Shadya (Steve); son, Victor (Kim); and grandchildren, Adam, Ethan, Noah and Sophia. As well as his nephew; nieces; and sister, Hoda Nassif Takla who reside in Egypt. He was preceded in death by his beloved son, John Phillip George Takla. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 5, 2011, at Finley-Sunset Hills Chapel, 6801 S.W. Sunset Highway, with a reception to follow. Remembrances and donations may be made to Goodwill, American Cancer Society , Metro West Ambulance, the Americanization Council of Portland, or the humane society in lieu of flowers or gifts please.