REPLOGLE, Robert L. 1931 - 2016

REPLOGLE, SWARTZ, BREMER, SHEFFER

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 10/16/2017 at 07:26:18

Robert L. Replogle, MD, 84, of Chicago, died Monday May 9 at the University of Chicago Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services will be 10:30a.m. Saturday May 14, 2016 at the First Congregational Church, Clear Lake, Iowa with Rev. Harlan Seri officiating. Burial will be in Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, Iowa with military honors provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W. Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake and then one hour before the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Opportunity Village or Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, IA., in memory of Robert L. Replogle.

Born in 1931 in Ottumwa, Iowa, to Ralph and Edith (Swartz) Replogle, Bob moved to Clear Lake at the age of 7 and grew up there, graduating with his high school class of 45 students.

He matriculated to Cornell College in Mount Vernon in 1949, where he studied biology, played football, and was part of the nationally ranked wrestling squad. His studies were interrupted by the Korean conflict, and he served in the Navy 1951-1954. During his service he worked the Naval Research Institute in Bethesda and became interested in medical sciences. After being honorably discharged, he nearly completed his studies at Cornell College, where he later received an honorary degree from Cornell College having already been accepted to Harvard Medical School.

During his first year in medical school Bob was introduced to his future wife, Carol. They married after his second year in school, and both focused on their education during the ensuing time. Bob’s internship was spent on the surgical services at the University of Minnesota. He returned to Harvard to serve internships, and then did his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. He emerged as a general and cardiothoracic pediatric surgeon, and took an initial faculty position with Boston Children’s Hospital.

In 1967 Bob became a pediatric surgeon at the University of Chicago, where he headed the congenital heart surgery program. He did additional training in adult cardiac surgery, and spent his clinical career thereafter performing adult and pediatric open heart operations. In addition to his renowned clinical expertise and surgical skill, Bob was an educator and clinical investigator of the first order. He mentored numerous surgeons into outstanding academic careers and published over 100 scientific papers and book chapters.

Although he contributed immeasurably to clinical medicine and education, his greatest professional accomplishments were related to his leadership abilities. An early example relates to his brother Ralph, who suffered from cerebral palsy and often required special care that was difficult to obtain through state institutions. It happened that this condition affected members of several other families in Clear Lake. Bob joined these other townspeople to found in the early 1960s what eventually became Opportunity Village, which provides a home for adults with disabilities. It currently supports over 600 people from more than 30 communities.

As a surgeon, Bob found himself involved in the beginnings of a number of professional organizations, most notably the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He rose through that organization to become president in 1996, and enacted a number of important changes that have had a lasting impact. Always someone who thought out of the box and made interesting connections among various disciplines, Bob championed new ideas and many new technologies. He “established in internet presence” for his specialty, was an early computer enthusiast, and launched efforts for advocacy in government on behalf of cardiothoracic surgeons. He had his own website long before most of his colleagues knew what the internet was.

His personal life was even more interesting than his professional life. Always on the lookout for new adventures and hobbies, he focused his attention in turn on fast cars, scuba diving, underwater photography, and digital photography. He was an avid traveler who had numerous close friends throughout the world. He became a wine connoisseur later in life, and loved to entertain friends and colleagues over his favorite wine selections. Most notably, he was devoted to his family, and loved nothing more than having them at home or along on an exciting travel adventure.

To those who knew him, Bob was a force of nature. His energy, enthusiasm, sharp wit, and fierce intelligence always made for fun company and interesting and lively conversations. He never forgot his Iowa roots, and at the time of his death still had many steadfast friends in Clear Lake.

Bob is survived by his wife Dr. Carol Replogle, Chicago, Il., three children Dr. Jennifer (Mark) Bremer, Boston, MA., Dr. Edith (Scott) Sheffer, Palo Alto, CA, and son Dr. Robert E. ( Michelle) Replogle, Grand Junction, CO.; nine grandchildren Max, Molly, and Joe Bremer, Eric and Alice Sheffer, and Robert Jackson, Caroline, Samuel, and Eliza Replogle .

He was preceded in death by his parents Ralph R. Sr. and Edith Replogle and his brother Ralph R. Replogle Jr.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, Iowa 641-357-2193. ColonialChapels.com