Former health services director dies

Princeton NJ -- Dr. Louis Pyle Jr., a 1941 Princeton graduate who formerly served as director of the University Health Services and director of athletic medicine, died Jan. 14 at his home in Princeton. He was 81.

A pediatrician in private practice in northern New Jersey from 1953 until 1971, Pyle then engaged in an extensive and successful career in university health and sports medicine at Princeton from 1971 until his retirement in 1999.

Louis Pyle

In 1971, Pyle was appointed associate director of the University Health Services, where he was in charge of its clinical services. He also was named the first director of its sexuality education, counseling and health program, where he led the establishment of specific health services especially for women after Princeton became coeducational. In 1976, Pyle was appointed director of athletic medicine, overseeing the University's entire sports medicine practice and serving as team physician for the varsity football, basketball and hockey teams.

Pyle became director of the health services and an officer of the University in 1977, a role in which he modernized the University's delivery of campus health services, expanded the integration of the health services with the area's larger medical community, and continued the advancement of clinical and athletic medicine. He also guided the health service to accreditation with the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care.

A Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Pyle was an active member of the American College Health Association, which he served as chairman of its sports medicine section. In 1991, the ACHA presented Pyle with its Ollie B. Morten Award for distinguished service.

Survivors include his son Thomas of Princeton, a 1976 Princeton University graduate; daughter Sally of Bloomington, Ill.; and daughter Elizabeth of Newport Beach, Calif.

Contributions in lieu of flowers may be directed to the Princeton University Class of 1941 Scholarship Fund (c/o Recording Secretary, Princeton University, Box 140, Princeton, NJ 08544), the Hun School (c/o The Scholarship Fund, 176 Edgerstoune Road, Princeton, NJ 08540) or the National Audubon Society (c/o Living Tribute, 700 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10003).