Terry Scott Laird, M. D., died May 19, 2009, in Santa Cruz, CA, at the age of 67. Scott was born November 22, 1941 in Oakdale, CA, a fourth generation native born Californian, to May and Terry Turner Laird, M.D. He is survived by his wife, Ruth , his sons, David , Michael and Sam, his sister, Jane Laird Sharp, daughters-in law, Joyce Laird, and Heather Reed, his grandgirls Marisa, Keiko, Anabela and Abby Laird, nieces, nephews and great-nephew.
Scott was Stanford University, class of ’64, and St. Louis University Medical School, class of ’68. After internship at St. Louis University Hospitals, and moonlighting at Christian Northwest Hospital Emergency Room, Scott deferred residency, joined the U.S. Army Medical Corps, and went to Vietnam, where he was stationed in Phu Bai and Danang with the 101st Airborne Division, from 1969-1970. He received the Bronze Star and commendations for his many hours flying to firebases by helicopter to care for soldiers stationed in the field. He returned to Ft. Carson, CO as Emergency Dept. Director, from ’70-’71, when he became Emergency Director at San Rafael Kaiser Permanente.
In 1975, Scott, wife Ruth and three sons moved to Gilroy, CA, when he became Emergency Director for Wheeler Hospital. He served his beloved Gilroy community as Emergency Director at Wheeler, then South Valley Hospital, (now St. Louise Hospital) for 22 years. He was the Football Doctor for Gilroy High, proud parent of Hawks Wrestling Team, and Gilroy Swim Team. Scott established the first outlying Base Station in Santa Clara County with protocol and pad for helicopter transport of patients. He proctored Stanford Physician’s Assistant students.
An accident in 1996 left Scott paraplegic, but he became Director of Doctors on Duty in Watsonville, CA, and lived in Watsonville for the next 10 years. He retired from active medicine in 1998, but volunteered for the Diversion Committees of the Medical and Dental Boards and he continued to volunteer in special ways for Gilroy and Watsonville.
As he wished, Scott’s ashes were scattered at sea. A Memorial Service will be Monday, June 29, 2009, at Gilroy Presbyterian Church, 6000 Miller Avenue, Gilroy, CA 9502. Friends, relatives, patients, neighbors and colleagues are invited to celebrate the life of this very courageous man.
