Sam Lizarraga
Dr. Sam Lizarraga, 78, passed away peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, July 5, 2020, with his wife at his side at their home in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He was a prayerful man who loved his family, his church, his friends, and his Lord passionately and he will be deeply missed, even though his legacy will live on in the many lives he touched.
Sam, born in Potosi, Bolivia on Sept. 25, 1941, was an avid soccer player, having once played with Pelé. He attended medical school at the University of Saint Francis Xavier, where he excelled at surgery and obstetrics. He was a naval officer and surgeon in Bolivia for several years, often providing life-saving surgeries for whatever people could spare - he told a story of removing an infected tooth once for some ears of corn. In 1971, he met medical missionaries visiting from Chattanooga, and was invited to return with them to the U.S. He did so not knowing that he would meet the love of his life in Chattanooga and end up moving here permanently. He and Dianne married on Nov. 29, 1975. Their son, Tony was born in April 1978, and considers himself fortunate to have such wonderful parents.
Sam loved the United States and was naturalized as an American citizen on Aug. 31, 1994. He was an active member of First-Centenary United Methodist Church, where he served as an usher, member of the World Outreach Commission and Staff Parish Committee, and was a faithful member of the Monday Noon Prayer Team for many years. When he came to the United States he received additional training in surgery at Erlanger Hospital. He was employed by TVA as a staff physician at several nuclear power plants and then worked in occupational medicine there until he retired in the late 90s. After retiring, he enjoyed teaching medical Spanish to students at Erlanger, Chattanooga State, and BCBS, and audited several classes at UTC on Monday evenings with his close friends.
He had a variety of talents and passions. He was and remains well known for his skill at woodcraft –making furniture and carving and painting his carousel horse, cherubs at the Carousel, and intricate ducks and animals. He relished cooking traditional Bolivian meals from scratch, almost as much as those who benefitted from his cooking did. He had an uncanny ability to fix almost anything, and he could repurpose old junk into new machines that he used in his workshop. He had a passion for cars, an elegant style, and a fierce love of his wife and son and grandchildren. Everyone who met Sam felt like they had been friends with him for years and he brought a warmth and light from within him wherever he went.
He was preceded in death by his father, Marcial Lizarraga and his mother, Zenaida Lizarraga Zeballos.
He is survived by his wife, Dianne Pierce Lizarraga, his son, William Anthony Lizarraga (Katie) of Brentwood, TN, his granddaughters Abby and Molly and his four younger siblings, Nelly Lizarraga Zeballos, Sonia Lizarraga Zeballos, Sara Rivera Lizarraga, and Marcial Lizarraga, all residing in Bolivia.
We would like to thank our family and friends for their wonderful love and support during his illness. He knew that he was loved.
Due to the current health situation, a private service funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Dr. C. Mark Gooden officiating. You can view the service by visiting our website, ww.heritagechattanooga.com. Interment will be held at Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to First-Centenary United Methodist Church, 419 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, Tn. 37402.
Please visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort to the family.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
Sam Lizarraga