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- The Gadsden Times, Alabama, Sunday, December 24, 2017
John Burrell Bass Jr.
1944 ? 2017
He did what he could
In the time that he had
In the place that he was?John Bass
Dr. John Burrell Bass Jr., one of the founding faculty members at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and one of Alabama's most prolific medical educators passed away on Dec. 16, 2017. He was 73.
A fourth-generation physician and native of Gadsden, he attended Auburn and Tulane Universities, and earned his Doctor of Medicine Degree from Tulane University. He completed his internship and residency in Internal medicine at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, where he served as Chief Medical Resident and Fellow in Pulmonary Medicine.
A faculty member for over 40 years at the University of South Alabama, Dr. Bass served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine as well as Director of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. He was one of the leading experts nationally and internationally on tuberculosis care and prevention, published extensively, and served on national committees for the American Thoracic Society and Centers for Disease Control Prevention. He was a Master in the American College of Physicians, and served with distinction as Governor for the Alabama Chapter.
Of all of his professional achievements and accolades, Dr. Bass was most proud of his role as a medical educator. He taught thousands of medical students at USA and directly trained many generations of pulmonary and critical care physicians. He took pride in the fact that he was the only faculty member to have lectured every medical student since the school was established. He had a unique and gracious teaching style, often weaving literature or musical references into his lessons, and was beloved and respected by his residents and colleagues for his tremendous intellect and giving nature. He received numerous teaching awards, including the Best Clinical Professor, the Distinguished Faculty Award, and a prestigious Mastership with the American College of Physicians/American Society of Internal Medicine. His teaching was so influential that the college's award for Best Clinical Professor was renamed the John Bass Teaching Award in his honor.
A lover of music and literature, he was equally as comfortable with a banjo in his hands as a stethoscope, discussing great books with friends, or leading Bible study in only the way he could. He would recite Shakespeare or sing bluegrass depending on the situation and had a deep love for his family and friends and cherished time with them.
Dr. Bass was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. John Burrell Bass and Helon Hayden Bass of Gadsden and is survived by his wife Rebecca Fordham Bass; children John Burrell Bass III (Johnnie) of Memphis, Tennessee and Anna Fordham Bass of Houston, Texas; grandchildren Ella Rose Bass and Nathaniel Jay Bass; brother Dr. Robert Winston Bass (Kathy), sister Sue Bass Erwin (Robert); nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, (visitation at 10 a.m.) at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Mobile.
In his own words and at his request: No donations. No flowers. If he had a positive influence on your life have a celebration in remembrance of it. Arrangements by Ascension Funerals & Cremations, 1016 Hillcrest Road, Mobile, AL 36695.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1944 - 2017 (73 years)
d. 16 Sep 1972, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama