Donald Shropshire, a community leader who spent 25 years as CEO of Tucson Medical Center, died Thursday. He was 87.
During his tenure, which began in March 1967, the hospital grew from 250 beds to 615, and from fewer than 1,300 employees to 3,000. At Christmastime, Shropshire would shake hands with every employee and patient — even if it meant crawling out of bed at 2:15 a.m. to greet the third shift.
Shropshire passed away in his sleep after a long illness.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 2450 E. Fort Lowell Road.
In addition, friends and colleagues may celebrate Don’s life with the family at a reception to be held from 1 to 3 p.m., also on Saturday, June 20 at the Marshall Auditorium on the Tucson Medical Center campus.
The much-beloved CEO was considered the heartbeat of Tucson Medical Center and was always an advocate of keeping the hospital nonprofit and independent. And he earned a reputation for emphasizing the importance of all employees.
“I just think the hallmark of a hospital ought to be caring and I think that patients and their families ought to sense that spirit,” Shropshire told the Star in 1991. “And I don’t think we can deliver on that unless the employees care for each other as well.”
TMC is now Tucson’s last remaining independently owned community hospital and has retained its not-for-profit status. The 70-year-old hospital is also the current local market share leader.
“If success is measured by how many lives one has touched, or how many positive changes one makes in the world, then Don was a successful man indeed,” said Judy Rich, who is the current TMC president and CEO.
“He was a thoughtful man who was not only a visionary leader, helping to move this community hospital into its modern age, but who inspired us all with his civility, passion and dedication.”
Under Shropshire’s leadership, the hospital opened Tucson’s first newborn and pediatric intensive care units and brought the city its first MRI and breast imaging technology, TMC officials said Friday.
In 1989 he received the American Hospital Association Distinguished Service Award.
In addition to health care, he believed that education and the arts were pivotal for the well-being of a community.
He served on both the Arizona Board of Regents and on the board of Pima Community College, and personally supported students through scholarships at Pima Community College, the University of Arizona and the Medici Circle for the performing artists of the future.
In 1987, the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce named him man of the year, citing his “profound commitment” to Tucson.
His motto: “With all we take from this world, it’s important that we take time to give back.”
Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild called Shropshire “a gentleman who understood the need for community-based medicine,” as well as “a philanthropist and a gentle spirit with a steel will.”
“TMC would not be the outstanding health care facility it is today without Don. Personally, he was a mentor, and I will miss him,” Rothschild said.
Dr. Francisco García, director of the Pima County Department of Health, came to know Shropshire well from his time in student government, during Shropshire’s tenure on the Board of Regents.
“The state owes him a debt of gratitude for his effective leadership and advocacy on behalf of low income and minority students at our state universities during his tenure on the Regents,” Garcia wrote in an email.
“He was a mentor and role model to a whole generation of university students including myself. I was lucky to be one of those individuals.”
Shropshire is survived by Mary Ruth, his wife of almost 65 years; his son, Devin Shropshire; daughter Melanie David and son-in-law Gary; three grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and his brother, Kent Shropshire.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Shropshire’s name to one of the numerous charities he supported. They include the TMC Foundation for The Don & Mary Ruth Shropshire Endowment for the TMC Healing Art Program; the Medici Fund, University of Arizona College of Fine Arts; the hospice program at Peppi’s House; or the Scholarship Fund of the Pima Community College Foundation.
