Dr. Claude Organ

Claude Organ -- surgeon, medical educator
Janine DeFao, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, June 26, 2005

Dr. Claude H. Organ Jr., a prominent surgeon and medical educator, died June 18 of heart-related problems at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley. He was 78.
Dr. Organ, an Oakland resident, was the second African American to serve as president of the American College of Surgeons and also was chairman of the American Board of Surgery. He had recently retired as the editor of the Archives of Surgery.
"He really loved surgery and helping his patients improve their quality of life, and he loved teaching students," said his oldest son, Claude Organ III of San Diego.
Dr. Organ, who had been denied acceptance to the University of Texas medical school because he was black, was particularly dedicated to opening doors for other minority and women surgeons, his son said.
Dr. Organ was born and raised in Texas, one of three children.
He attended Xavier University in New Orleans, a historically black college, where he met his wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Mays. They went on to have seven children.