Cosmo L. Haun

Cosmo L. Haun, 82, died at his home of Parkinson's disease on July 13, 2016.

He was born in Mohawk, TN on August 26, 1933. His father was dairy farmer Iros Haun, and his mother Clara Ailshie taught at a one-room school. Cosmo formed his strong work ethic beginning at age five with dawn milking chores. His education began at a one-room-school but he graduated his local high school as a National Merit Scholar. 

He entered University of Tennessee as an Agriculture major, later specializing in Agriculture Economics, but finally decided a future of farming was not for him and switched to pre-Med, graduating head of his class in 1959 from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis, TN.  Described as "the sleepy looking guy in the back of the room taking chicken-scratch notes," he refused to ever pull an "all-nighter" to study. When he first told his parents that he intended to be a radiologist, they thought he wanted to go into radio.

He served his residency in Jackson, MS the same year as the book The Help took place, and he called those the worst years of his life. The young doctor reported a story of sheer repugnance for racial discrimination commonplace throughout the hospital. His superiors reacted with a great furor when he threatened to roll a black patient into a white patients' area, almost ending his career before it began.  Although he begged to be placed in another residency program elsewhere, his superiors vowed he would remain or forget the practice of medicine.

In 1965, he landed in academic medicine at Emory University Clinic. He taught medical students and later became a full professor at Emory School of Radiology.  He remained for twenty years during which time he received many honors. He was a founding member of the Georgia Chapter of the Roentgen Ray Society and served as president. He was elected to the prestigious Fellow of the American College of Radiology.  In 1984 he entered private practiced as Chief of Radiology at Gainesville's Lanier Park Hospital, remaining until it closed. His practice continued with part-time associations with various places including Open MRI, finally retiring after 51 years of practicing medicine.

He is survived by Cherie, his wife of 37 years, and three sons. Eldest son, Gregory Cosmo Haun  and wife Jennifer are parents of grandchildren Jaden and Silas Haun who reside in Portland, OR.   Douglas Geoffrey Haun and wife Jessica are also from Portland. Alan Cosmo Haun resides in Gainesvile.

Funeral services for Saturday July 17, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the chapel of Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel.

Family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 till 7:00 p.m. on Friday July 15,2016. Interment will be held on Sunday July 16, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. at the Sweetwater Valley Memorial Gardens,Sweetwater , TN

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Canine Companions 8150 Clarcona Ocoee Rd. Orlando FL 32818 
or the Parkinson Research Foundation at parkinsonhope.org.

On line condolences maybe made at memorialparkfuneralhomes.com
Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel 989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, GA  30501   770-297-6200