Dr. Thomas Willard Littlejohn 3rd of Winston-Salem, N.C., died tragically on March 30. He was 62.

Born Oct. 3, 1948, in Winston-Salem, to Dr. Thomas Willard Littlejohn Jr. and Audrey Wheelock Littlejohn, he was a longtime resident of Winston-Salem, N.C. He was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned both his bachelor of science and medical degrees and was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. An active golfer and fisherman and lover of food and wine, he also enjoyed spending time with his family at his second home in Edgartown.

Dr. Littlejohn committed his life to helping others through a career in medicine. He completed his residency at Charlotte Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in 1977 and became an instructor in the Department of Family Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He was the cofounder of Maplewood Family Practice and served as president until 1996. He also served as the chief of the division of Family Medicine at Forsyth Medical Center. From 1979 until 1996, he acted as the medical director of student health services at Salem College and Academy in Winston-Salem.

family
Surrounded by his Vineyard family. — unspecified

For the past 25 years, he served as the president and executive medical director of PMG Research Inc. in Winston-Salem. Under his leadership, the company grew from a single research site in Winston-Salem to a nationally recognized multi-site clinical research organization. As a renowned clinical research investigator, his life’s work contributed significantly to the development of numerous medications, vaccines and medical devices that have improved the quality of life for many people.

His vision and innovative drive led to the founding of Clinical Ink, a developer of software solutions for clinical research sites where he most recently served as chairman of the board. He was also a cofounder of the Greater Gift Initiative, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance global health and highlight the greater good of clinical trial participation by gifting a vaccine to a child in honor of every clinical trial volunteer. In 2010, more than 6,000 polio vaccines were donated to children in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria through the Greater Gift Initiative.

He was on the board of numerous professional organizations, including the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians (NCAFP) and was recently appointed to the board of directors of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Investigators (AAPI) and the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP)

He is survived by his beloved wife of 23 years, Margaret Hoke Littlejohn of Winston-Salem, N.C.; his mother, Audrey Wheelock Littlejohn of Winston-Salem, N.C.; brothers Roger William Littlejohn of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Traxler Willard Littlejohn of Charleston, S.C.; sister Elizabeth (BeBe) Littlejohn Payton (and her husband, Chris) of Aiken, S.C.; sons Jonathan Paul Wilson (wife, Caryn) of Charlotte, N.C., Thomas Ryan Littlejohn of Charlotte, N.C., Joshua Cole Littlejohn (wife, Amanda) of Sullivan’s Island, S.C., William Tyler Littlejohn (and his fiancée, Jenny) of Sullivan’s Island, S.C.; daughters Cali Todd Rich (and her husband, Woody) of Boston, and Anna Claire Littlejohn of Missoula, Mont.; grandchildren Aiden Connor Wilson, and Thomas Natale Wilson; and countless friends and colleagues.

Maggy and her family want to express their deep appreciation and profound gratitude to their Vineyard friends, “for holding us close and rescuing us during the saddest of all times. Every heart in our entire family beats with thanks to you, our Vineyard family.”