Thomas Elliott Root, MD

Thomas Elliott Root, MD, 81, passed away at home in Portland, Oregon surrounded by family on October 27, 2024.

Tom was born on August 16, 1943, in Port Jefferson, New York. Son to Elliott and Ruth (Horney) Root, he was raised in Jamestown, New York. As a young man he excelled at playing the trumpet and enjoyed trips to New York City to see live jazz and Broadway shows. He attended Ohio Wesleyan University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison and remained a lifelong Badger fan. After college he attended medical school at SUNY Syracuse. He then completed his medical training at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago along with two years of military service at Great Lakes Naval Base. It was at Rush that he met the love of his life, Carole, and they married on March 5, 1971. They later moved to Roscoe, Illinois, to raise their family. For over 40 years he worked as an infectious disease physician in Rockford, where he cared for countless patients and became a respected member of the medical community. He was also associate professor emeritus at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and recipient of numerous teaching awards. In 1988 he spent a month teaching in China, where he developed a love of Szechuan cuisine. He enjoyed traveling, most notably a honeymoon in Europe, adventures in Labrador as a young man, annual fishing trips with his sons, and family vacations to Alaska, Wisconsin, New York, and England. When not working or spending time with his family, he found endless joy and satisfaction working outside and transforming their 10 acre property, including maintaining trails, walking along the creek, planting trees, gardening, and landscaping. He also enjoyed building things, collecting antiques, listening to music, caring for the family’s dogs & cats, watching sports, and playing games. In 2020 he and Carole moved to Portland to be close to family. Tom was a loving and dedicated husband, father, physician, and teacher.

He will be missed by those who loved him most including his wife of 53 years, Carole (Severs); children David (Shannon), Emily, and Andrew (Kristine); grandson Henry; brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, friends, and colleagues. He is predeceased by his parents Elliott and Ruth; sisters Mary and Suzanne; in-laws Thomas and Marilee; and nephew Philip.

 A memorial visitation will take place on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, from 9:00 until 10:30am at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, Illinois, 61108 with funeral service immediately thereafter. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to support infectious disease related education at The University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford via this link (in the "Gift Designation" box type "Department of Medicine" to call up the "CMR Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties Unrestricted Fund"). Share condolences and memories at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.