Dr. John Heath Vaughan, 85, died Nov. 16 at his La Jolla home. He served as both the chairman of the Department of Clinical Divisions at Scripps Clinic and Research Center and as the program director of the General Clinical Research Center at Scripps during the 1970s. He was also Professor of Medicine in Residence at UCSD from 1990-1997. He had lived in La Jolla since 1970.
Vaughan was born Nov. 7, 1921, in Richmond, Va., and both his father and grandfather were physicians. He graduated cum laude from Harvard College in 1942 and from Harvard Medical School in 1945 and served as an active duty member of the U.S. Army from 1946-1948.
After completing a two-year research fellowship in immunology at Harvard’s Peter Brigham Hospital, Vaughan continued his training as a fellow at Columbia University in New York for two years.
Vaughan’s major research contributions were in the field of allergy and autoimmune diseases. His work was included in more than 3,000 scientific articles, book chapters and reviews. The doctor also served on editorial boards for four medical journals and co-edited two textbooks.
He was active in the Rotary Club of La Jolla since 1986, heading a rotary program in support of primary and secondary education in Tijuana and Leon, Mexico, and co-founding the Youth Scholarship Program in Tijuana, which has now branched out to support 27 scholars, ages 12-17. Vaughan received the 2003 Philanthropy Award from the Foundation for Educational Achievement for his work with the Youth Scholarship Program.
Vaughan is survived by his wife of 23 years, Marjorie Seybold, of La Jolla; his four children, John H. Vaughan Jr. and his wife Carmen, Nancy O’Neal and her husband John, David Vaughan and his wife Susanne, and Dr. Margaret Elizondo and her husband Michael; six grandchildren; and his former wife, Dr. Margaret L. Vaughan of La Jolla.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at Torrey Pines Christian Church, 8320 La Jolla Scenic Drive.
Donations in Vaughan’s honor may be made to the La Jolla Rotary Foundation, Youth Scholarship Fund, 7755 Fay Ave., No. D, La Jolla, CA 92037.
