Robert Lee North's Obituary
Robert Lee North, M.D., Col., Retired USA Died on 10/16/2009 of respiratory disease at age 79 at home in Dallas, TX. Dr. North was an outstanding clinician, education, husband and father. He was born in Woodriver, IL, on 12/8/1929. His family moved frequently during his youth. He attended eight grammar schools, two middle schools, two high schools, and two colleges in four states before receiving his M.D. at LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans in 1955. He graduated fifth in his medical school class and was inducted into Phi Beta Phi (now Phi Beta Kappa) and Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Societies. Dr. North married Joan Teoulet of New Orleans in 1954. They had two children. Joan died in 1962. After medical school, he joined the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He did his internship at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. He did his medical residency and cardiology residency at Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco. In 1963, Bob was transferred to William Beaumont General Hospital in El Paso, where he was Chief of Cardiology and Assistant Chief of Medicine and in charge of patient care and the intern and resident training. He was board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. In 1965, Bob married Army nurse Joanna “Jo” Wenck, and they had four children. From 1966 to 1972, Bob was stationed back at Brooke Army Medical Center, where he was Chief of Cardiology and later Chief of Medicine. Bob was privileged to be one of President Lyndon B. Johnson doctors for 6 years. He and Jo were with President Johnson at his last birthday party in Mexico. Bob also took care of Mrs. Mamie Eisenhower in October 1971. Bob received several honors, including the Army Commendation Medal and the Legion of Merit for his clinical practice, medical education and training of doctors. Retiring from the Army in August 1972, Bob settled in Dallas. He had been recruited by Dr. Donald Seldin to be on the faculty of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and to set up a medical residency program at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. He served as Chairman of the Department of Medicine, Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Director of Medical Education at Presbyterian Hospital from 1972 to 1986. In 1986, he became Vice President of Medical and Academic Affairs at St. Paul Hospital until October 1995. In the past Bob had been active in the Dallas County Medical Society, Texas Medical Association, Texas Club of Cardiology, and other professional organizations. Early on, Bob foresaw the problems with health care and government intervention, but he believed in medical care for everyone. He was a scholar of many subjects, including history, philosophy, religion, computer science, and medical ethics. Bob wrote many papers for work and pleasure. His legacy is the many doctors whom he trained. He will be missed. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Joan, his infant daughter, Mary Virginia, his parents, Beatrice Fisher North and Robert Nathan North, and his sister, Sherry North Moore of Sulphur, LA. Bob is survived by his second wife of 44 years, Joanna, his five children – Robert Joseph North of Dallas, Karen North Mead and her husband Greg Mead of Kingwood, TX, John Frederick North and his wife Shari of Dallas, Susan North Weidner and her husband Rick Weidner of Stuart, FL and William Derrick North and his wife Stacey of Dallas, his thirteen grandchildren – Michael, Rebekah, Bethany, Joshua, Rachel, Aaron and Lydia Mead, Caroline and Sally North, Trip and Reilly Weidner, Abby and Kate North — cousins, nieces, and nephews. Interment will be at the D/FW National Cemetery on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 10:00 AM with military honors. A memorial service will be at All Saints Catholic Church, 5231 Meadowbrook Dr., Dallas, TX 75248 on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 12:00 PM with a reception following at the Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dallas County Medical Society Foundation, which supports community health care programs, P.O. Box 4680, Dallas, TX 75208, or to the charity of your choice.
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