Captain Donald “Don” H. Gaylor, M.D., 94, of Salisbury Township, died April 8, 2021, with family by his side while under hospice care at South Mountain Memory Care, Emmaus, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He was a resident of Allentown for 46 years prior to his stay at SMMC. He was the husband of the late Joan W. Gaylor for 66 years. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was the son of the late Norman H. Gaylor and Frances (Hughes) Gaylor.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and attended the University of Rochester (N.Y.) and upon graduation, he entered the University of Rochester Medical School, graduating in 1949.

Through his naval career, he was appointed chief of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at the U.S. Naval Hospital, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., until 1968 when he was assigned chief of surgery and chief executive officer of the USS Repose from 1968 to 1969 during the Vietnam War. During this time, he was promoted to captain in the U.S. Navy. Upon his return, he became chief executive officer of the Naval Medical School, Bethesda, Md. until 1972 when he retired after serving for 29 years.

He was recruited by Leonard Parker Pool, of Air Products, to come to Allentown to serve as chairman of the department of surgery at the Allentown Hospital Association and then later named chief of surgery of Sacred Heart Hospital. In July 1974, he was named chairman of the department of surgery at the newly-formed Allentown and Sacred Heart Hospital Center, (Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest). Through his efforts, the LVH site became Pennsylvania’s first state-designated trauma center. He also aided the hospital’s open-heart surgery program in becoming one of the largest in the state.

He was a founding director and co-medical director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services Council, as well as a founding member of the American Trauma Society and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He was a member of the medical advisory committee of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council and past president of the Pennsylvania division of the American Trauma Society. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He was a member of the AMA, Pennsylvania Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons and Association of Hospital Medical Education.

He enjoyed deep-sea fishing with his sons. He was a past member of the Allentown Rotary and Sierra Club.

He is survived by his children, Timothy (Diana), of Bethlehem, Susan Snyder (Mark), of Emmaus, Steven (Jeannie), of Preston, Md. and Christopher (Christine), of Sykesville, Md.; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Janet Kiegal; numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, David.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held noon April 15 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1040 Flexer Ave., Allentown. A viewing will take place 11 a.m. to noon April 15 in the church. COVID-19 restrictions will be followed. Arrangements by Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Homes, Emmaus.