No one can argue that Dr. Thomas Zusag was a one-of-a-kind human. With an amazing IQ and a license plate that read "PHOTONS," he obviously stood out from the crowd.
But it wasn't until you really got to know him that you could peek behind that scientific exterior. That's when you got to see the man who cared so very much about his patients that mentioning them caused the tears to start flowing. They were part of his family, and he never failed to say as much. He recognized the worth of each and every one of them and their families.
That short-in-stature, emotional guy was tall inside when it came to supporting, and fighting for, his patients. He would do whatever he could, whenever he could, to help them beat cancer. He was quoted as saying, “I’m never satisfied with being told there is no hope, no options.The key is a down-to-earth discussion with the patient about what can be done and how they wish to proceed. My goal is to do the best for the patient.”
Dr. Z was never one to fail to greet his "family members" when he was out and about in the community. He would wave. He would stop to talk about astrology, his record album cover collection, science, politics... You name it. He knew about it.
And that's what made him so special to us at Mary Lanning Healthcare and the Morrison Cancer Center. He fought for his patients and their families. We offer our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Z's biological family and his patient family. He will certainly be missed.
Memorial services will be 1-4 p.m. Saturday, July 10, 2021, at Brique 1887, 109 N. Burlington Avenue in Hastings.