We have been blessed to have in our midst a distinguished and prominent surgeon, Dr. Columbus D. McAlpin. A gentleman of extraordinary achievements and success and extremely high personal ethical standards, McAlpin passed away on Friday, September 3. He was 61. McAlpin was the former Director of Pediatric Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. He was also on the medical staffs of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Childrens Hospital of Long Beach, King Drew Medical Center, Centinela Hospital, Santa Monica/ UCLA Hospital, Saint John’s Hospital and California Hospital. His brilliant surgical career spanned over 30 years and focused on healing and saving the lives of tens of thousands of children. McAlpin was born on August 11, 1943 in Los Angeles and attended Cathedral High School, where he served as student body president. Unknown to many, McAlpin turned down a UCLA football scholarship. Instead, he worked his way through UCLA so that he could focus on his undergraduate premedical studies and fulfill his dream of attending medical school. He accomplished all of this, while helping to parent and financially support his three younger siblings, due to his mother’s early death. McAlpin graduated at the top of his class from Howard University Medical School, Alpha Omega Alpha. He was also voted president of his graduating medical class. He completed his general surgical residency at Harbor UCLA Medical Center and his pediatric surgical residency at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. He distinguished himself as the chief pediatric resident at Childrens Hospital. He was the second African American to obtain certification by the American Board of Pediatric Surgery. He held academic positions at USC Medical Center and Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School. He received countless honors and awards during his prestigious career, most notably the coveted Golden Apple Award presented to the most outstanding faculty member and voted on by the chief resident and residents of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He and his family have been residents of Pacific Palisades for 15 years. ‘He walked among us as a common man: not flashy, not ostentatious, but humble and gentle with a twinkle in his eye and always a smile on his face,’ said family friend Brenda Miller. However, he was far from common. It was a unique experience to encounter a man such as McAlpin, whose miraculous touch healed so many. His calm and reassuring demeanor instilled immediate comfort and confidence, especially when fragile lives were at risk. McAlpin could not stroll in any community without being greeted by a former patient or parent, eager to extend a grateful hug. In spite of his demanding professional schedule, he placed the highest priority on his family. He never missed a special musical performance, sports event or any occasion honoring his family. His family was clearly an important priority in his life. He was dearly loved and will be tremendously missed. He is survived by two children, Marcus, 11, a 6th grader at John Thomas Dye, and Lauren, 15, a sophomore at Marlborough; his wife Rochelle; and four of his siblings, Lola McAlpin Grant, Leonard, Jerome and Christina McAlpin. His sister Veronica was recently deceased. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 11, at Corpus Christi Church, 887 Toyopa Dr. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Columbus McAlpin, M.D. Fund, which will underwrite a room at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in McAlpin’s name, and contribute to the McAlpin children’s college education, 2341 Veteran Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90064.
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