Arthur Hamilton Hoyte passed away on October 26, 2023, after a brief illness. He was a beloved father, grandfather, husband and friend who will be deeply missed by all. Arthur was born on March 22, 1938, in Malden, Massachusetts, where he spent his formative years. A graduate of Malden High School where he was an outstanding athlete and captain of the high school track team, Arthur received many awards including induction in the Malden High School Hall of Fame. Majoring in chemistry, he received his AB in 1960 from Harvard College where he was a member of Eliot House. Arthur went on to earn an MD from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1964. Following a medical internship at San Francisco General Hospital and residency at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, he began medical practice specializing in obstetrics and gynecology at Kaiser-Permanente Hospital in Oakland, California.
In 1972, Dr. Hoyte was asked to come to Washington, D.C. to work in the Health Affairs Department of the United States Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), where he focused on the particular health problems in disadvantaged urban and rural communities. A few years later Dr. Hoyte joined the faculty of Georgetown Medical School where he was appointed to various positions within the faculty and administration of the medical school and medical center. Dr. Hoyte was a strong advocate for access to medical education for those most excluded from the profession. Throughout his time in Washington, D.C., he was known for his efforts to promote access to health care for the poor and underserved in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Hoyte had a profound impact on minority medical students by initiating the Georgetown Experimental Medical Studies (GEMS) Program in 1976. GEMS is a post-baccalaureate experience for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are most likely to make a significant contribution to meeting the needs of minority and underserved populations in the United States. There are now over 800 graduates of GEMS including over 564 physicians and 252 other health care professionals. At the request of the Mayor of Washington, DC, Arthur took a one year leave of absence in 1982 to serve as Commissioner of Public Health for the District of Columbia. Arthur retired from Georgetown Medical Center in 1999, after a 26-year career as a faculty member and administrator.
Arthur was predeceased by his parents, Oscar Hoyte and Patti (Ridley) Hoyte; as well as a sister, Barbara (Hoyte) Armstrong; and a brother, Ralph Hoyte. Arthur is survived by his wife, Maria Hoyte; and their beloved children, Alex and Alexa; as well as two grandchildren. He is also survived by his former wife, Stephanie (Hebron) Hoyte and their son, Jacques S. Hoyte of Albany, California; by a brother, James S. Hoyte of Lexington, Massachusetts; a sister, Patti Darlene (Hoyte) Frazier of Chesterfield, Virginia; and his dear friend and companion, Mary Berkeley of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
A private memorial with friends and family will be held at a later date.
Published by The Boston Globe from November 18 to November 19, 2023.
