Tazewell Banks

Dr. Tazewell Banks was born January 7, 1932 in the District of Columbia, to Seldon Banks and Cora Banks. He grew up on Swann Street in the District, under his mother’s watchful eye in a nurturing but disciplined environment along with his brother Maxwell Banks who later had his name changed for the stage to Max Julien. Mrs. Banks instilled a strict code of discipline in her sons, as well as a high desire to achieve and a fierce competitive drive.

Young Tazewell was a veritable sponge, soaking up knowledge and always attempting to better his environment as well as the conditions of those around him. He matriculated first at Cardozo High School, then Howard University, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, became one of the top wrestlers on the University’s team, wreaking some havoc along the way, and entered into the Bond of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated in 1950, further honing his desire to succeed and achieve.

Also while at Howard, Tazewell met the apple of his eye, Catholic University Nursing student and soon to be Nurse, the beautiful Myrtle Trescott, affectionately known to him as his “Tweety” quite some time before Twitter was established, for you young people in attendance. They wed in 1954 at St. Augustine’s also in the District.
He remained at Howard to complete his Medical Doctorate while becoming a member of the National Medical Honor Society Alpha Omega Alpha, continuing his stellar academic achievement throughout his ascent through Medical school, Internal Medicine Internship, and Residency and Cardiology Fellowship, where he became Professor of Medicine and taught Medical Students, Interns, Residents and Fellows, stressing the unpopular opinion at the time that Cardiovascular Exercise and Dietary Modification were key to the prevention of heart attacks and strokes. Soon his colleagues, predecessors and students became aware of the wisdom in his teachings and began to stress these important factors as well.

He published dozens of papers and earned numerous accolades throughout his long career in medicine, too many for us to mention here today. He also proudly served in this Nation’s Armed forces, Army division, from September 5th 1956 through September 5th, 1961, stationed in Germany and Texas.

Tazewell didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk. He continued t press forward in his athletic endeavors to become a Masters Swimme Triathlete and competitive runner and cyclist into his ?O’s.
He did admittedly let his diet slip from time to time, but more as a reward for athletic achievement than as the norm. He always thought outside the box and kept his mind open to various ways of improving the body and the mind through meditation and various other forms and styles of medical discipline which are now becoming more and more accepted as the standard, proving himself to be a true Renaissance Man.

He was also a Gentleman, and instilled this discipline not only in his son but in those around him, on occasion rather forcefully. As I’ve said, he was always teaching life’s lessons in one way or another and his Chess Game was Masterful, as anyone who has played with him will attest.

The last few years of Tazewell’s life were spent gradually succumbing to the ravages of Alzheimer’s Disease, his battle now mercifully over with God’s Blessings, a difficult battle for any and all that it touches, much less a life of brilliance as was his.

Dr Banks is survived by his lovely “Tweety” Myrtle, his Brother Max, his daughters Andrea Kimberly Banks and Kelley Marie Banks, Son, Gregory Charles Banks.MD. Grandsons, Evander Gregory Banks, Damien Charles Banks (who joins his “Pop-Pop” in the afterlife) and Bryan Christopher Banks as well as a host of cousins, nieces and nephews