Claude Louis Puthon, M.D. (PHYS ’62)

Homage to Claude
Claude was born in ANNECY on June 4, 1928. His father’s family was from St. JEOIRE-EN-FAUCIGNY but he was very proud to be from Annecy.
Claude was fond of remembering St. JEOIRE, talking about his ancestors, his great-grandfather Célestin CHERDON, mayor of St. JEOIRE from 1908 to 1912, but especially his grandmother, whom he was very close to; he often returned to the family vault.
After his studies at Lycée BERTHOLLET ANNECY from 1934 to 1946 which he had kept a very good memory and particularly appreciated his teachers ARMAND and MOLINIER, visiting the latter until the end of his life. He entered in 1947 to the faculty of the PCB (PHYSICS-CHEMISTRY-BIOLOGY) in GRENOBLE. Continuing at LYON University from 1948 to 1954 studying medicine until his doctoral thesis.
He performed his military service in the Alpine Chasseurs in 1955 – 1956, before going to KABYLIE to participate in operations as a doctor from 1957 to 1959; he will always keep very painful memories.
His great pride was to obtain in 1960 a scholarship to the USA, to the famous MAYO-CLINIC of ROCHESTER (MINNESOTA); He has always praised his Director, Professor Earl H. WOOD, who taught him a great deal in research and which he remembered with admiration.
Claude was able to realize his dream of returning during his retirement, welcomed with honor and receiving each year of the MAYO-CLINIQUE for his birthday a beautiful floral composition.
After his improvement in cardiology in several departments of Hospitals of LYON where his diagnosis is quickly recognized and appreciated, he opened his practice at ANNECY.
When he retired in 1993, he devoted himself above all to caring for his beloved aunt Marguerite, who died in 2010 at the age of 104.
Claude has always enjoyed sports by practicing horse riding, skiing, swimming and the mountains, especially on the CLUSAZ side which he particularly liked; he was the cardiologist of the French SKI team, at the time of the victories of Jean-Claude KILLY.
During his retirement, he was elected President of the AMBASSADOR and FRANCE / ETAS-UNIS Clubs of ANNECY and kept in contact with his many friends.
Claude was lucky enough to marry Grace Lee BILLINGS in 2013, a long-time American friend who brought him serenity and a presence to his home in VEYRIER-DU-LAC that made very welcoming.
Thank you Grace for having loved and surrounded Claude for more than _____ years and for giving him a happy old age; as he enjoyed walks both by the lake and in the surrounding mountains, he never tired of telling us about them.
Thank you Claude for all the good times spent together and especially the many invitations to the best restaurants which were very much appreciated by my sister and I.
I will end with the phrase that Claude has often repeated to us.
“I lived my life as I imagined. “