possible, to relieve Armstrong of any domestic burdens or worries that might encroach on
his time or might interfere with his work. The family was a pillar of strength during his
many laboratory-acquired illnesses.
Those who knew Dr. Armstrong in his personal life were aware that he was a
“man of many parts” in addition to being a physician-scientist, a teacher, a person of
great physical strength and endurance. He was a legendary humorist given to optimism
and laughter, and an engaging raconteur with an endless supply of jokes. He enjoyed
making hand-drawn Valentines that he used to distribute in season to members of the
Division of Infectious Diseases when he was its Chief. (He also sent them to his
daughter.) These have been collected and kept by his long-time secretary, Miss Virginia
Burlingame. He was tolerant, non-prejudiced, a responsible citizen and an adamant
participant in exercising his voting rights regularly in scheduled county, state, primary
and federal elections. He was also a handy man and domestic jack-of-all-trades. As a
carpenter, he put a roof on his first home after marriage, and he painted the same house
twice on the outside. He put a roof on the garage of his second house. As a mechanic, he
kept his automobile, farm tractor, family washing machine, clocks and fans in working
order, but he never mastered the maintenance of radios. He also wired the home of his
wife’s parents in rural Ohio near Senecaville. In summary, he was an extraordinarily
gifted, well-rounded person.
In his written autobiography, Armstrong listed in chronological order what he
considered to be his major, lifetime, scientific contributions. Other sources (1, 22) round
out the list: