Gustavo A. Colón MD

Gustavo A. Colón (Pirulo) passed away on Thursday, November 12, 2015, at the age of 77. He was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and grew up in New York City. He received a B.A. degree from Johns Hopkins University and an M.D. degree from the University of Maryland and subsequently did residency training in both General Surgery and Plastic Surgery in New Orleans, LA. He was Board Certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and was a Clinical Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Tulane University.

He was a member of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and past President of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery as well as Director of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Colón was past President of the Louisiana Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, past President of the Medical Staff at East Jefferson General Hospital, founding Chairman of the Board of Doctor’s Hospital in Metairie, and past President of Jefferson Parish Medical Society. Dr. Colón was President of the AAAAPSF (American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Plastic Surgical Facilities), the largest organization that accredits outpatient surgical facilities in the United States.

He was a consultant on office surgery to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business and the Subcommittee on Regulation and Business Opportunities. Dr. Colón was elected to the hospital board at East Jefferson General Hospital located in Metairie, LA. Dr. Colón was formerly chief of Department of Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery at Ochsner Clinic Foundation. Dr. Colón was President of the Hispanic American Medical Association of Louisiana and the New Orleans Catholic Physicians Guild and was active in medical missionary work with Operation Smile and “Christ the Healer” program to Nicaragua.

He was the 1993 recipient of the Community Service Award from the Louisiana State Medical Society and in 1965; he received the Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon for his work during hurricane “Betsy”.

Dr. Colón resided in New Orleans since 1965 and was active in many civic and volunteer organizations locally and nationally. Dr. Colón was a medical historian, and painter. His areas of expertise are Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery with an avid interest in Civil War medicine and surgery.

Dr. Colón is survived by his wife Carmen Sanchez Colón; daughters Lisa M. Colón, M.D. (Amanda), Nairda “Lesa” T. Colón (Clare); stepdaughters Carmen “Carin” Sanchez, M.D. (Trey), Alicia M. Sanchez (Matt); sons Gustavo “Gene” E. Colón (Mitchell), Alberto Adrian “A.A.” Colón (Elena); grandchildren Charlie Colón (age 8), Zachary Sands (age 6), Tyler Sands (age 2), Nathan Sands (age 2), and Jackson Pelc (age 2). He is preceded in death by his parents Gustavo Enrique Colón and Araceli de Ramery Colón; wife Nairda Muniz Colón; brother Luis Colón; stepdaughter Ana Maria Sanchez.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial Mass celebrated by Very Rev. Jose Lavastida and Rev. Luis Rodriguez on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 12:30pm at St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church, 4317 Richland Ave, Metairie 70002. Visitation at the church will begin at 10:30 am until service time. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 https://donate.cancer.org/index or The Parkinson’s Foundation – Louisiana Chapter, 200 SE 1st Street, Ste 800, Miami, FL 33131, http://parkinson.org/get-involved/ways-to-give

To view and sign the family guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.