- Date Of Death: October 12, 2016
- State: New Mexico
James Marvin Andre passed away at home with family at his side on October 12, 2016 in Albuquerque, NM. He was born in New Orleans, LA on May 22, 1932. He attended a catholic convent school in Destrehan, Louisiana where he was taught by nuns of the Sisters of Saint Mary and served as an altar boy, finishing only the 8th grade. At age 14, Jim signed up to join the Army Infantry and was sent off for Paratrooper training. Eventually, he was transferred to Selfridge AFB in Michigan where he was promoted to Buck Sergeant. At age 16, Jim met 16 year-old Doris Sumner of Mt. Clemens, Michigan, and when they turned 17, they married on May 12, 1950. They had their first child at 19 and stayed married 64 years.
After receiving his GED, Jim was admitted to Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. There, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, and in 1964 his Doctor of Medicine from Wayne State College of Medicine. While on active duty as a Lt. Commander in the USPHS, Jim completed an internship at the United States Public Health Service hospital in Norfolk, VA and the U.S. Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA from 1964 – 1965. Upon completion of his residency at the University of Michigan in 1968, Jim joined the Indian Health Service of the USPHS and was stationed in Albuquerque, NM and promoted to Commander in 1969. He received a Master’s Degree in Public Health, with honors, in 1972 from the University of Michigan. In 1973, he was appointed as a Senior Clinician of the Indian Health Service, responsible for one of seven specialty areas of medicine and surgery for the Indian Health Service. Promoted to Captain, he was responsible for consultation, training and program development for alcohol and drug problems among all tribes, nationwide, within the IHS. Dr. Andre’s story is featured in the book “America’s Youngest Warriors,” Vol. II
From 1983 to 2005, Dr. Andre served as a physician consultant, surveyor, and trainer for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, retiring in 1995 after 12 years of service.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Doris, his son Rene, and his grandson Christopher Andre-Hudson; he is survived by his daughters, Linda Andre Wells of Wisconsin, and Paige Andre-Hudson and husband Dennis Andre-Hudson of Florida; grandchildren, Taunya Crilly, Ben Phillips, Mike Phillips, Kailee Wells, and Josh Andre-Hudson; six great grandchildren and brothers-in-law, Al Sumner, Ben Sumner, and Elger Sumner.
Monday, October 17th, 2016, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, FRENCH – Lomas
Monday, October 17th, 2016, 1:00pm, FRENCH – Lomas
