Nicholas D. Broussard

Published 11:46 am Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Nicholas D. Broussard

1931 – 2024

Nicholas D. Broussard, MD, 92, passed away peacefully at his home in Shady Cove, Oregon on June 11, 2024, with his loving wife and family members at his side.


Nic was born in New Iberia, Louisiana, a true Cajun. He often shared stories about his early years growing up in Louisiana, including his first three years of high school at St. Benedict’s Seminary. After his mother passed when he was16, he found himself surrounded by “the village” to lift him up. In his younger years he played amateur baseball and taught himself to play the guitar. He then traded guitar lessons for flying lessons at the local airport. It was with family he developed a love of cooking, which included generous amounts of Tabasco sauce, for which the region is famous.


From that strong upbringing Nic started a long and rewarding career as both an aviator and surgeon. After graduating from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, he served as a Marine Aviator flying AD’s (Skyraider) in Korea, as a flight instructor and led the last stateside squadron of Corsairs. Subsequently he earned his MD at Louisiana State University School of Medicine then served as a Navy Flight Surgeon out of Norfolk, VA for four years. His residency at the Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, VA included a tour in Da Nang Viet Nam during the War. His later service included the Navy Regional Medical Center in Long Beach, CA where he ultimately became Chief of Surgery and met his wife, Diana, who served as a navy nurse. In 1978 he served as Commanding Officer at the Naval Aerospace and Regional Medical Center in Pensacola, FL. His final military assignment was Director of Clinical Services at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Nic retired as Captain, Medical Corps USN in 1984 after 30 years of service to his country.


Those busy years made many happy memories desert bike racing with his kids, coaching football, and hosting Christmas parties for the neighborhood while standing in as Santa Clause. He and Diana married in 1980. He later built an aerobatic biplane to the delight of those who would hitch a ride with him and woodworking in his shop. He and Diana enjoyed many travels both in and out of the country. True to his Cajun roots, they frequently entertained friends and family wherever they lived. Nic was often found with guitar in hand singing with military service men and women during their hospital stays, showing much empathy and kindness. Nic was known for telling stories of his many adventures mixed with lots of humor.


Also, during his career Nic taught the art of surgery to students at the University of California at Los Angeles/Harbor General Hospital and held an Associate Dean position for the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.


Nic was proud of his involvement in emergency services. He was a Member of the Disaster Committee for the Society for Total Emergency Preparedness (S.T.E.P.) and served on the Board of Directors for the Southern California Chapter of the American Trauma Society. He continually looked for instructor opportunities to train EMT’s and nurses, especially in the mass casualty and advanced trauma arena. He was often consulted for regional disaster drills and planning. He participated in the development of “Date with Disaster”, a 1971 movie produced for the Office of Emergency Services Advisory Committee to the President of the United States.


In his retirement Nic maintained a surgical practice in the Oregon Rogue Valley until 2002, after which he and Diana built their home on the Rogue River in Shady Cove. They spent many happy days there loving their rescue dogs and planning for friends and family who visited from all over the country and beyond. Many afternoons were spent waving from their deck to the rafting parties floating down the river.


In the last year of his life, Nicholas was cared for at home by his devoted wife, with the help of family, valued friend Nancy “Puppy” Lee, and the compassionate caregivers at Good Life at Home Care. He leaves behind his best friend and wife of 44 years, Diana. He also leaves behind his children Lizanne Broussard, Scott Broussard and his wife Kathy, Bryan Broussard and his wife Beth, Leigh Ellen Broussard, his grandchildren Garrett, Lauren, Blake, Bowen and Berlin, and many extended family members in Louisiana. He will be sorely missed by his dear sister- and brothers-in-law, Susan & Curt Belton, William Beck and Thomas Beck. Nicholas was pre-deceased by his parents Dessard Broussard and Evelyn Delcambre Broussard, his first wife of 17 years Nancy Gauvreau, brother Jack O. Broussard (Anita), and infant granddaughter Jillian.


There will be a service with full military honors held at the Eagle Point National Cemetery on October 2, 2024 at 1:00PM. Those who wish to remember and honor him are invited.