Abstract
Lowell Dean “Hap” Lutter, MD,
I first met Hap in the spring of 1982. Being a recent convert to the orthopedic sub-specialty of Foot and Ankle and having a ‘Runners Clinic', which would drive one to distraction, it was thought best to find help with these perplexing problems. All material which could be read on the subject and all who were called for advice pointed to St. Paul and to Hap Lutter. Hap graciously granted a visit to his clinic. It was the beginning of a long and wonderful friendship.
Hap, in his very busy office, explained why an orthosis was modified in one patient in one manner and in another patient a different modification was needed. In his unique manner of openness and candidness, he simply said, “Sometimes you do not know for sure what will work, and sometimes nothing done to modify an orthosis helps the patient.” During this visit it was obvious that Hap treated patients as he would wish to be treated. It was that day over 27 years ago that it became apparent Hap was a true doctor worthy of respect and even emulation. In one of his many entertaining, instructive, and poignant editorials over his 11-year tenure as Editor-in-Chief, he wrote, “Engender the sense within—to care deeply about a patient's welfare—which will transcend the medical pathology.” Hap lived this.
Hap put feet to his words of our need to be caring physicians by volunteering for 4 to 6 weeks a year for over 25 years in Tunisia, where his skills as educator, clinician, and surgeon were desperately needed. He was the Chief of Staff of Gillette Children's Hospital in St. Paul and taught there for the majority of his orthopaedic career. He was President of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery (AAOS), the American Orthopedic Association (AOA), and the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America while serving on countless AOFAS and AAOS committees and boards. He was also President of the AAOS Orthopedic Learning Center. While giving scores of lectures to enhance orthopedic education, he traveled thousands of miles (before the days of instant communication and Power Point) and maintained a busy private practice.
Hap and grand-daughter Paige.
In the years he was Editor-in-Chief, the journal expanded to 12 issues a year and changed from a financial liability to a financially stable entity, allowing more printed pages which encouraged more author participation particularly with our international colleagues. Associate editors were added, the number of reviewers multiplied, and a tireless effort was exerted to be certain the journal's readership received a final product with as little supposition and opinion as the ‘science’ of our clinical specialty allows.
Nor did Hap neglect his community service responsibilities. He volunteered for many years in community health fitness projects and programs. As he always did, he put himself into the programs by example. Even in his beloved fly fishing for trout he was active in conservation of the banks and streams which were their habitat. Additionally, Hap was one of the most dedicated and respected recreational runners, cross country skiers, and cyclists in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area, completing over 30 marathons locally, nationally, and internationally. Only in his obituary by a St. Paul sports writer was it made known that Hap, in middle age, had run a 2-hour-and-40-minute marathon, a most remarkable feat at any age. All his friends ever heard about his running from him was, “I used to could run at a pretty good pace.”
However, Hap's greatest contribution was to his family. To his beloved wife and soul mate Judy (an accomplished runner, cross country skier, hiker in her own right), their children Wendy, Reid, and Parke, grandchildren Tate, Paige, Isabelle, and Perry, and ‘in-Loves’ Jessica, Eric, and Ronen, Hap was simply Hap, Dad, and Papa in all the fullness and richness those titles enlist. They know Hap put their welfare, their trials and triumphs, their interests above his own.
To list all of Hap's accomplishments professionally and personally in his three score and ten allotted years would be notoriety he would not wish. To attempt to name all those physician and non-physician friends who have worked alongside and admired Hap would risk leaving someone in the shadows; to quote the many written condolences and remembrances sent to Judy and the family at his death would expose that which they will cherish in deeply personal times of reflection in the months and years to come. May all those who have expressed so much warmth and love to Judy and the family and all of us who have lived in Hap's ‘FOOT FAMILY’ allow these words from Charlie Saltzman, the current President of the AOFAS, upon hearing of Hap's death, to express what we all felt toward Hap and how deeply we will miss him.
“What a sad day. Hap was a special person and we are lucky he touched our lives.”
EGR