January 22, 2001

Gale Russell Ramsby, 65, of Branford, chairman of the Health Center's Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Therapeutics, died Dec. 27, at the John Dempsey Hospital. He had been a faculty member at the Health Center since 1974.

"The Health Center family suffered a major loss of one of its key citizens and faculty when Dr. Gale Ramsby died after a long and valiant battle with cancer and serious pulmonary disease," said Peter J. Deckers, executive vice president for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. "Despite full realization of the seriousness of his clinical problems, Gale continued to work more than full time, not only as an expert interventional radiologist, teacher and scientist, but also as a highly effective administrator for his department, the faculty practice, the School of Medicine and the Health Center."

Ramsby was born in New York City, and grew up in Niles, Mich. He earned a B.A. degree from DePauw University in 1957.

After postgraduate work at Notre Dame, he earned his M.D. degree from at Wayne State University in 1962. He interned at Detroit Memorial Hospital, then pursued a residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was chief resident. He subsequently joined the faculty and was an associate professor. Concurrently, from 1968 through 1976, he served as director, School of Radiologic Technology and assistant chief of radiology at the VA Hospital, West Haven.

Ramsby held numerous positions at the Health Center, including associate director of technical affairs; chief of special procedures; chief of cardio-vascular radiology; professor of radiology and chairman of diagnostic imaging and therapeutics. He was a fellow of both the American College of Angiographers and the American College of Forensic Examiners, and had many other professional affiliations.

"His keen, well-informed intellect brought quick and reasonable solutions to otherwise confusing situations," said Deckers. "He was a man who cared for all of us, knew how to delegate and enable, and was quick to celebrate the success of his students and staff. His support and love of this school was palpable and will be long remembered."

In addition to his wife, Suzanne (Smith) Ramsby, he is survived by two daughters, Melinda and Synthia, and two sons, Quinn and Shannon, and other family members. Melinda is a third year internal medicine resident in the Department of Medicine, and a graduate of the UConn School of Medicine, class of 1997.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Department to help bring to fruition one of Ramsby's special projects, or to the Branford Land Trust, P.O. Box 254, Branford, CT 06405, or any other environmental charity. For departmental donations, checks should be made payable to the UConn Foundation, with "in support of the Department of Radiology" in the memo line, and mailed to the Development Offfice, UConn Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030-3800.