Charles D. Tourtellotte, M.D.

Charles D. Tourtellotte, M.D., after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease, passed away peacefully in his Haddonfield, NJ, home on December 6, 2020.  He was 89 years old.

Charles was the beloved husband of Barbara (nee Richwine) Tourtellotte.  They both attended Haddonfield Memorial High School, and were married 65 years.  He was the loving father of Beth, Bill, Scott (Kim), cherished grandfather to Sarah, Ben, Grace and Lucy Wlodarczyk, Julia, Ryan, Colin, James, and Kevin.  He was brother to sisters Carol Curtis and Helen Brotzman, and he was uncle to Jennifer, Jonathan, and David Curtis, and Michael Brotzman.  Charles was predeceased by his eldest son Dan, and his parents Dr. Dee Tourtellotte and Helen (nee Lotz) Tourtellotte.

Charles attended Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, MD, then Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, for a medical degree and a Masters degree in biochemistry (1957).  He served his internship and residency at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. He was then postdoctoral fellow in rheumatology at the Rockefeller University, New York, NY.

For 33 years (1966-1998), before his retirement in 2000, Dr. Tourtellotte served as Temple’s Chief of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, all the while providing professional leadership to such groups as the Philadelphia Rheumatism Society, the Philadelphia County Medical Society, the Arthritis Foundation, and as a founding member of the Greater Delaware Valley Arthritis Control Program.

He served as Assistant (1965-67), Associate (1967-72), and full Professor of Medicine (1972-98) at Temple’s School of Medicine, as well as Attending Rheumatologist, Chief of the Arthritis Clinic, and Director of the Pediatric Rheumatology Center at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children from 1985 to 1998.  He achieved the honor of Emeritus Professor of Medicine.

Charles served Temple University and its Medical School well:  in 1984-86, he was President of the Medical Staff and was a member of the Hospital Board of Governors.  He was President of the Faculty Senate for the School of medicine from 1971 to 1972, and President of the Medical Alumni Association for four years, 1996-1999.  Dr. Tourtellotte has been honored on numerous occasions by the Arthritis Foundation, the American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association.  The Haddonfield Alumni Society bestowed its lifetime achievement award to Charles in 1996.  He researched his family heritage, and was named as Surgeon General of the National Huguenot Society, which honors those of French Protestant ancestry.

Following Temple Medicine’s teaching characteristic, Charles nurtured and taught many medical students, residents, and fellows during his career, and he saw many advancements in treatments for his patients over the years.  He was involved in a variety of clinical research activities and published more than 45 scholarly articles.  In addition to treating patients at the hospital, Charles was always available to tend to neighbors and friends who needed medical care or advice.

Charles enjoyed his many dear and life-long friends.  His happiest times were with friends and family.  He enjoyed the outdoors and was a sportsman and avid birder who loved to fish, hunt, camp, and boat.  His interest in the environment also led him to serve as member and Chairman of Haddonfield’s Environmental Commission for several years.

Charles was a lifetime learner and educator, and he served as member and President of the Haddonfield Board of Education.  He was instrumental in making the addition to the high school a reality in the 1970s.

He traveled with Barbara, including European trips to trace the Protestant Reformation.   He was a lover of classical music and enjoyed a good joke.

Charles will be remembered as a dedicated, kind-hearted, selfless, and generous husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, healer, mentor, and teacher.

A memorial service to celebrate Charles’ life will be held on Saturday, October 9th at the First Presbyterian Church of Haddonfield, 20 Kings Hwy. E., Haddonfield, NJ.  The family will greet friends from 9:30 to 10:45 am and his Service will follow at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to First Presbyterian Church of Haddonfield, 20 Kings Hwy E., Haddonfield, NJ 08033; or Temple University Hospital by visiting: http://www.giving.temple.edu/givetomed and specify the Charles D. Tourtellotte M.D. ’57 Endowed Lectureship in the “Other” text box.   Checks can be made out to Temple University and should include the memorial name and Charles D. Tourtellotte M.D. ’57 Endowed Lectureship (T4108) in the memo line of the check.  Checks can be mailed to Temple Health Institutional Advancement, P.O. Box 827651, Philadelphia, PA 19182-7651. For questions, please contact 215-707-4868 or supportmed@temple.edu