Dennis L. Stohler
It is with immense grief the family of Dennis L. Stohler, MD announces his passing on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga.
Dr. Stohler was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, friend and colleague. He was a respected and dedicated orthopedic surgeon, retiring in 2006. His patients adored him and often called him for advice even after his retirement. Many sent him personal notes begging him to return to practice because they couldn’t find a physician who was as compassionate as him.
Dr. Stohler was born in Chicago on Oct. 6, 1946, to Edgar Hugo Stohler and Bernice Marie Carlton Stohler. His family ultimately settled in Johnson City, Tn., where he attended Science Hill High School and played football with Steve Spurrier. After he graduated in 1964, he attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He was a die hard Vols fan and, according to him, “had way too much fun” while attending UTK. However, he focused enough to earn a degree with honors in 1968 majoring in Zoology with minors in Biology, Math and History. He attended medical school at The UT College of Medicine in Memphis earning a degree in 1971. After spending a year at Baptist Hospital, he served our country for three years as a Captain in the United States Air Force.
In 1975, Dr. Stohler came to Chattanooga to begin his orthopedic surgery residency at Erlanger Medical Center. At that time, residents didn’t earn enough to pay their bills and were forced to work additional jobs to make ends meet. He spent many nights working at the East Ridge Hospital Emergency Room where he met his future wife, Constance. She said she kissed an awful lot of frogs before she met her prince, but, once she found him, she never let go. They were married in 1978 and began their life together.
In 1979, Dr. Stohler finished his orthopedic residency, and they decided there was no other place they would rather raise their family than Chattanooga. His good friend and fraternity brother, Dr. Charlie Brice, shared his office with him until his office was completed. He began a lifetime of work serving patients and giving countless hours of service to Memorial Hospital. At Memorial, Dr. Stohler served on numerous committees including Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Medical Staff. He was the Medical Director for the Skilled Care Unit and held many other positions of hospital leadership, including Chairman of the Department of Orthopedics, the Credentials Committee, the Medical Executive Committee and the Memorial Hospital Board of Directors. He was elevated to Honorary Status of the Medical Staff in 2006. He was a member of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, the Tennessee Medical Association and the American Medical Association.
Dr. Stohler was a committed volunteer in his community and church while maintaining a busy medical practice. He served on the board of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera for many years. He was on the board of St. Barnabas, serving as Vice-Chair and then Chairman of the Board. Dr. Stohler was on the Board of the Speech and Hearing Center from 2000 until the time of his death. He was also on the Board of NHC Healthcare Chattanooga from 1983 until the time of his death. He was a longtime Rotarian and member of the Hamilton Place Rotary Club where he served as President and was a current active member. He also volunteered for the Community Kitchen.
Dr. Stohler was a faithful member of his church. He was a member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church for many years where he was a member of the Layman’s Group, a Chalice Bearer, Layreader, and the Vestry. He later joined St. Paul’s Episcopal and continued as a Chalice Bearer. St. Paul’s and his faith in God sustained him for many years when his health began to deteriorate.
As faithful as he was to his numerous commitments, Dr. Stohler’s family and friends were where his love flourished. The foundation of his Christian faith was nurtured within the Stohler household. His faith were the bricks and mortar of their home, and he instilled this faith in his children. He also instilled the importance of higher education in them. He served as the patriarch of his family with Constance raising 5 devoted children. Following the births of four daughters, he finally added a beloved son to the mix. With his love for animals, there were any number of dogs, cats, birds, or fish added to the chaos. Eventually, he simply began calling his children by their birth order. His children could depend on their father to attend every sporting event, dance performance, and school play. He never missed a moment. He instilled in them a love of travel, and there are many memories from their frequent family trips. His sense of adventure spanned from traveling extensively in Europe, hiking on the AT, and scuba diving in the Caribbean and Hawaii. He made many trips to Montana and Colorado just so his wife could ski even though he cared nothing about the sport. He did, however, enjoy meeting her at the bar for libations at the end of the day. His sarcastic humor couldn’t be matched and, fortunately for all, was a trait passed on to all of his children. His dry wit kept his scrub nurses laughing while at the same time he expanded their knowledge of orthopedics. Their support, as well as that of many of his colleagues, during his hospitalization was invaluable and comforting to his wife and their children.
But in the end, the happiness of his family was foremost with him. You could always depend on this man to be totally honest with you even when the opinion was cringe-worthy. He will be remembered as a hurricane of fresh air and candor. As he got older he said, “middle age is when you have the choice of two temptations, and you choose the one that will get you home earlier.” His sense of humor, the joy in his heart, and the laughter on his lips was a sign to all that this person had a pretty good grasp on life.
Preceding him in death were his parents, brothers, Ted and Glenn, his cherished in-laws, William Austin and Frances Stallings House and granddaughter, Ayala Caden Stohler Pitts.
Surviving him are his beloved wife, Constance House Stohler, five children, Amber Stohler Pitts, Katherine Stohler (Paul) Dillard, Jordan Ashleigh Stohler, McLean Austin Stohler, and William Carlton (Claire) Stohler. Five grandchildren, Austin Ryleigh Stohler Pitts, Asher Colton Stohler Pitts, Maxwell Boyce Dillard, Frances Eleanor Dillard and Emerson Stallings Stohler. Brothers, Gerald Duane (Patricia) Stohler, Hugh Dale (Sara) Stohler, Kenneth Edgar (Ann) Stohler, and one sister, Ellen Jean Stohler. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Due to COVID-19, a private family burial will take place in the Memorial Garden at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. In the near future, a Burial Mass will be held with a reception following. A future announcement will come regarding the date of celebration.
In lieu of flowers, if you desire, we request you make donations to The Kidney Foundation of Chattanooga, The American Diabetes Association, The Highland Park Humane Society, Chattanooga Speech and Hearing Center, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or a charity of your choice.
“That person is a success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; who has earned the appreciation of honest critics and endured the betrayal of false friends; who appreciates beauty and finds the best in others; who leaves the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition, who knows that even one life has breathed easier because he has lived. This is to have succeeded.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
This wonderful, loving, larger than life man was certainly a success. He will be forever missed and never forgotten.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.