Beloved local doctor dies
SPRING HILL –
Five years ago Robyn Anderson got a call.
The familiar voice on the other end told her she needed to get moving if she planned to add to her family.
Dr. Thomas Armbruster was contemplating a graceful exit from medicine.
“Hey, I’m retiring soon,” Armbruster said to Anderson, “so if you’re having a baby you might want to have it soon.”
The two of them shared a laugh — like they did so many times before. Armbruster had delivered Anderson’s now 10-year-old daughter.
“Look, you’re not retiring until I have another child,” Anderson remembered saying to him.
Anderson, who is mayor of Weeki Wachee, did have her second child – another daughter — three years ago. Armbruster was there to deliver her.
Armbruster was admitted Oct. 9 to Oak Hill Hospital after suffering a heart attack. He passed away Tuesday.
The long-time obstetrician and gynecologist had two practices — in Spring Hill and the other in Hudson.
In a joint statement posted on the practice’s Facebook page, employees stated, “Although we are hurting, he is in heaven and hurts no more. Your thoughts and prayers were greatly appreciated by his family and staff. He will be missed greatly.”
Calls to the office Wednesday were going straight to the off-hours recorded message. On-call physicians were available.
On Facebook, the staff promised to “continue to provide personalized obstetrical care, deliver babies and attend to (patients).”
Memorial service arrangements had not been announced as of Wednesday afternoon.
“I would like to take a moment and express my sympathies to the family, patients and staff of Dr. Thomas Armbruster,” said Dr. Michael Griffen, a Spring Hill-area pediatrician. “He was a colleague and a friend of mine … I know he touched the lives of many families in this community. He will truly be missed.”
Cards and flowers may be sent to either of Armbruster’s two offices — at 3027 Landover Blvd. in Spring Hill and 13908 Lakeshore Blvd., Suite 250 in Hudson.
“We are saddened by the recent passing of Dr. Thomas Armbruster,” said Dr. Natalie Leibensperger at My Gynecologist. “His positive contribution to the community will be greatly missed. He was loved and respected by his patients and staff. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”
Armbruster held privileges at Spring Hill Regional Hospital and years earlier at Oak Hill Hospital when it provided maternity services.
He was on the staff at Spring Hill Regional since 1995.
“He is going to be missed not only as a physician, but as a friend,” said Patrick Moloney, the CEO of Spring Hill Regional.
“I really got to know him very well during the past few months,” he continued. “He’d come into my office and we’d talk about Busch Gardens and we’d talk about family … We didn’t just lose a doctor. We lost a member of our family.”
Armbruster’s interests were stretched long and wide, but he was famous for his love of theme parks. That only boosted the rapport he had with Anderson, a former Weeki Wachee mermaid who still works at the state park.
“He was such an amazing person,” said Anderson. “He became part of your life. He became your friend. He was such a wonderful guy. He’s really going to be missed by this community.”
