The Life of Isaac Cicero Thomas III, MD

Isaac (Ike) C. Thomas III was born on September 13, 1958 in Tokyo, Japan to the union of Isaac C. Thomas, Jr., U.S.A.F., Retired, and Yoshiko (Nishimura) Thomas. It was during these formative years in his youth that he learned to appreciate the Japanese culture, which was also his culture, including speaking Japanese. As a youth, he moved to Detroit and matriculated from Cass Technical High School in 1976. It was during this time that Ike developed a love for the performing and visual arts. He played alto saxophone and clarinet and was a member of the jazz band. He enjoyed photography and was senior class photographer. He was a highly competitive individual. This feature was exemplified by the fact that he only applied to Harvard because his guidance counselor informed him that he would never be admitted. He was accepted and began his freshman year the fall of 1976.

The next year, while studying biochemistry at Harvard University in Cambridge Massachusetts, Ike met Toni Marie Hoover, the love of his life. While at Harvard, Ike was a DJ of a late night jazz program and was one of the founding members of the Expressions Modern Dance Company. In 1980, after receiving his bachelor of science, Ike worked as a commodities trader while simultaneously pursuing a master’s degree in biochemistry at Harvard.

In 1984, Ike returned to Michigan to attend medical school at the University of Michigan. On December 20, 1986, Ike was united in the bonds of Holy Matrimony with Toni Hoover in New Orleans, Louisiana. After receiving his medical degree in 1988, Ike commenced active duty as a Captain in the United States Army Medical Corps. He was honorably discharged in 1992 after completing a tour of duty in Panama where he was a Special Forces physician and a three-year tour as the Director of the Outpatient Clinic at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. He had been originally accepted to the University of Michigan anesthesiology residency program in 1988, but had to deter his start date until he completed his military obligation. He re-applied, was accepted, and began his residency in 1993. In 1996, upon completion of his anesthesiology residency at the University of Michigan, Ike joined the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Michigan Hospitals, where he worked as both a clinician and Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology. Ike also maintained staff privileges at the Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Ike thoroughly enjoyed life to its fullest as well as giving much back to our society each day through his work as a physician. He has touched the lives of many individuals and their families. He was very much a renaissance man and very passionate about life. He was an aficionado of the performing arts (including jazz, classical music, theater and dance), traveling, sports, films, reading, cooking and gardening. He was a member of several medical organizations including the American Society of Anesthesiology, the Harvard Alumni Association of Southeastern Michigan, and the University Musical Society.

On the afternoon of Friday, June 8, 2001, while at home, he suffered a fatal heart attack.

He leaves to cherish his memory his deeply devoted and loved wife, Dr. Toni Hoover; his mother, Mrs. Yoshiko Thomas; his sisters, Kimberly Humes, P.E.; Jacqueline Thomas, Christina Thomas; a brother, Anthony Thomas, Esq.; a mother-in-law, Mrs. Gloria Hoover; sisters and brothers-in-law, Pastor Virgil Humes, Stephanie Thomas, Lizell and Nathaniel Jones; nieces and nephews, Tiffany Humes, Virgil Philip Humes, Tyler Thomas, Haille Thomas, and Warren (Trey) Steele III.

“He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time; for his soul pleased the Lord; therefore hastened he to take him away from among the wicked". (Wisdom 4: 8-14; the Apocrypha).