Floyd Randall Stauffer, Md
May 19, 1916 — May 3, 2013
Floyd Randall Stauffer was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Maurice and Dorothy Stauffer. He graduated from Hyde Park High School in Chicago and earned a B.S. Degree from the University of Chicago where he won the Big Ten medal for combined excellence in athletics and scholarship. He was first string guard on the Big Ten water polo championship squad, Phi Beta Kappa and received his B.S degree in physiology in 1937 before earning his Masters of Science from Ohio State University in 1940. From 1940-1943, he attended Medical School at Ohio State receiving his M.D in 1943. The day after he graduated from medical school, he married Mary Ruth Schuh who he described as "a brilliant doctor and first in her class."
Floyd was commissioned in 1943 as a Lieutenant in the Medical Corps for the United States Navy and interned at the U.S Naval Hospital in Bremerton, Washington. He served as a "Beach Party Doctor" (triage) in the Pacific theater on the U.S.S. Audubon. In 1947, he was dedicated Navy Flight surgeon, School of Aviation Medicine in Pensacola, Florida. Here he directed the human centrifuge program and instructed Navy pilots in acceleration forces and radial G-forces. He also conducted research on the G-suit, as well as experiments on human tolerance and "supine G-forces."
In 1948, He received his Ph D, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology from University of Southern California. The Stauffer family moved to Downey, California in 1954 where both Mary and Floyd continued to practice medicine. Floyd also served as the Warren High School team doctor for 12 years and sponsored some of the athletic awards.
"Dal", as he was called by friends and family, began his swimming career in Lake Michigan and his diving career at church summer camp at the age of 10. YMCA and high school diving followed where he became Chicago's junior and senior diving champion. After the 1934 World's Fair, Dal was invited to become part of the diving exhibitions where he competed with the country's best divers. He continued competing throughout college in club and AAU regional competitions winning championships. He was the All Navy Diving Champion in 1947. He went to the 1948 Olympic Trials, but finished seventh so just missed making the team.
In 1962, he started swimming and diving with the Senior Olympics. In 1974, Dal went to Texas for the first Masters diving meet. Throughout his Master's career, Dal Stauffer competed in 20 FINA Masters World Championships and 49 USA Masters National Diving Championships throughout the eight age groups beginning with 50-55. Active in the Master's program, Dal traveled throughout the country and around the world. He hosted Ukrainian and Lithuanian masters in his home as well as diving officials from Denmark. In 2006, Dal was inducted into the International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame and in 2007, he was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame for the University of Chicago for swimming, diving and water polo. At 89, Dal decided to "dive for history," being the first to set a Master's diving record for a 90 year old man.
In 1978, Dal discovered scuba diving and traveled to the best diving spots to pursue his new found hobby. The highlight of this activity was a trip to New Guinea with one of his sons and a group headed by Jean Michele Cousteau, son of the famous undersea explorer, Jacques Cousteau.
In 1984, when Los Angeles hosted the summer Olympic games, Dal carried the torch for one kilometer at Salem, Oregon on July 8, 1984, He paid the $3,000 for the privilege, most of which was donated to the Downey YMCA at his request via the Torch Relay Foundation.
A lover of nature and animals, he took his family to visit many of the National Parks and to Africa. He also enjoyed spectator sports as well as enjoying chess, bridge, the Japanese game of Go, reading, music and the theater. Annually, he created an original "transogram puzzle" for the family to complete on Christmas Eve. He maintained his digital dexterity for surgery by weaving baskets and crocheting placemats and tablecloths for family members. He was truly a "Renaissance Man" in every sense of the word.
Dal is survived by his wife, Dr. Mary Stauffer, sons: Jim (Sue) and John (Kim) and daughters, Dorothy Knight (John), Judi Saunders (Bob), and Janet Suzuki (Masa): grandchildren: Dawn Martens (T.J.), Diane Saunders, Katherine Rieth (Tim), Mary Owens (Aaron), Alison Riley (Dan), Jessica Stauffer and Jordan Stauffer and a great-grandson Phoenix Rieth.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mary R. Stauffer Foundation, P.O. Box 4688, Downey, Ca. 90241.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our web site.
Floyd was commissioned in 1943 as a Lieutenant in the Medical Corps for the United States Navy and interned at the U.S Naval Hospital in Bremerton, Washington. He served as a "Beach Party Doctor" (triage) in the Pacific theater on the U.S.S. Audubon. In 1947, he was dedicated Navy Flight surgeon, School of Aviation Medicine in Pensacola, Florida. Here he directed the human centrifuge program and instructed Navy pilots in acceleration forces and radial G-forces. He also conducted research on the G-suit, as well as experiments on human tolerance and "supine G-forces."
In 1948, He received his Ph D, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology from University of Southern California. The Stauffer family moved to Downey, California in 1954 where both Mary and Floyd continued to practice medicine. Floyd also served as the Warren High School team doctor for 12 years and sponsored some of the athletic awards.
"Dal", as he was called by friends and family, began his swimming career in Lake Michigan and his diving career at church summer camp at the age of 10. YMCA and high school diving followed where he became Chicago's junior and senior diving champion. After the 1934 World's Fair, Dal was invited to become part of the diving exhibitions where he competed with the country's best divers. He continued competing throughout college in club and AAU regional competitions winning championships. He was the All Navy Diving Champion in 1947. He went to the 1948 Olympic Trials, but finished seventh so just missed making the team.
In 1962, he started swimming and diving with the Senior Olympics. In 1974, Dal went to Texas for the first Masters diving meet. Throughout his Master's career, Dal Stauffer competed in 20 FINA Masters World Championships and 49 USA Masters National Diving Championships throughout the eight age groups beginning with 50-55. Active in the Master's program, Dal traveled throughout the country and around the world. He hosted Ukrainian and Lithuanian masters in his home as well as diving officials from Denmark. In 2006, Dal was inducted into the International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame and in 2007, he was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame for the University of Chicago for swimming, diving and water polo. At 89, Dal decided to "dive for history," being the first to set a Master's diving record for a 90 year old man.
In 1978, Dal discovered scuba diving and traveled to the best diving spots to pursue his new found hobby. The highlight of this activity was a trip to New Guinea with one of his sons and a group headed by Jean Michele Cousteau, son of the famous undersea explorer, Jacques Cousteau.
In 1984, when Los Angeles hosted the summer Olympic games, Dal carried the torch for one kilometer at Salem, Oregon on July 8, 1984, He paid the $3,000 for the privilege, most of which was donated to the Downey YMCA at his request via the Torch Relay Foundation.
A lover of nature and animals, he took his family to visit many of the National Parks and to Africa. He also enjoyed spectator sports as well as enjoying chess, bridge, the Japanese game of Go, reading, music and the theater. Annually, he created an original "transogram puzzle" for the family to complete on Christmas Eve. He maintained his digital dexterity for surgery by weaving baskets and crocheting placemats and tablecloths for family members. He was truly a "Renaissance Man" in every sense of the word.
Dal is survived by his wife, Dr. Mary Stauffer, sons: Jim (Sue) and John (Kim) and daughters, Dorothy Knight (John), Judi Saunders (Bob), and Janet Suzuki (Masa): grandchildren: Dawn Martens (T.J.), Diane Saunders, Katherine Rieth (Tim), Mary Owens (Aaron), Alison Riley (Dan), Jessica Stauffer and Jordan Stauffer and a great-grandson Phoenix Rieth.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mary R. Stauffer Foundation, P.O. Box 4688, Downey, Ca. 90241.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our web site.
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