Obituary of Dr. Robert Walter Emmens MD
Friday, August 2, 2019 Robert Emmens passed peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his family. Robert is survived by his wife of 59 years, Patricia L. Emmens and children Jonathan L. Emmens (Catharine), Terrance W. Emmens (Karla), Christopher J. Emmens (Donna), Kimberly A. Conte (Simon) and 11 grandchildren. As a former Air Force captain Dr. Emmens spent nearly 20 years working tirelessly as a pediatric surgeon and child advocate. He was a skilled teacher and mentor. He served as medical director of Mercy Flight, was president of the Rochester Academy of Medicine 1988 - 1989 and was president of Preferred Care HMO Board 1989-1992. His 4th of July parties were well renowned (epic occasions) in the Pittsford, NY community, with an eclectic mix of hospital, artistic and community leaders attending. Robert was generous, kind, candid and unflappable. He loved his family.
Calling hours will be Friday, August 9 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Miller Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., 3325 Winton Road South, Rochester, NY 14623. Memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, 36 S. Main St., Pittsford, NY 14534 on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to The National Kidney Foundation.(Website)
Below is an article written by Ronald Rabinowitz, MD about Dr. Robert Emmens...
Robert Emmens was destined to be a pediatric surgeon, having been introduced to the subspecialty at age 10 days, when he underwent pyloromyotomy for pyloric stenosis. In 1942, at age 1 year, the family moved from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Medford, Oregon, where Bob's father began practicing Ophthalmology, Throughout his early education, Bob combined study with sports, and lettered in football, basketball and track. He spent his summers on the golf course and in the water, swimming and water skiing. When Bob was 14, in an effort to improve his diving technique, a beautiful Olympic class swimmer in the neighborhood was hired as his instructor, l suspect that Bob feigned being a poor student as a ploy to continue the lessons. Bob's senior year in high school was marred by the sudden death of his father at age 4 l.
In 1960, shortly before his 19th birthday, Bob married his swimming instructor at the Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise, Idaho. My guess is that he did that to avoid paying for any more lessons. Bob and Pat recently celebrated their 41" wedding anniversary.
Bob and Pat attended the University of Oregon in Eugene. Bob worked in the hospital on the 3 to 11 shifts, initially in the laundry, but was eventually promoted to urology orderly. This resulted in a huge 25% pay increase to $1.25/hour. This allowed them to save a few dollars, as their rent was $55.00/month, including water, electricity, and garbage collection.
Having grown up watching "Ben Casey" and "Dr. Kildare", Bob dreamed of being a surgeon. He completed his premedical requirements in 3 years and went on to the University of Oregon Medical School. In 1966, Bob and Pat moved to Minneapolis for a rotating internship at Hennepin County General Hospital. There, Bob met Tague Chisholm, a surgeon who operated only on children. One day, Dr. Chisholm called Bob to be an assistant on the separation of Siamese twins, Bob's future was set. After 2 years as a Captain in the US Air Force, Bob returned to Minneapolis in 1969 and spent the next 5 years in general surgery. One of those years was spent in research working on lung transplantation in puppies and on the effect., of hyperbaric oxygen on carbon monoxide poisoning and gas gangrene infections in humans. During this time, Dr. Chisholm became a surrogate father and true mentor in guiding Bob through the political aspects of obtaining a pediatric surgery fellowship in Boston. At that time, there were 18 pediatric surgery programs in the United States graduating 22 fellows every 2 years. As if life was not hectic enough, during the 5 years of general surgery training from 1969-1974, Bob underwent a splenectomy for a ruptured spleen sustained in an automobile accident, underwent a thoracotomy for recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax, and contracted hepatitis from blood exposure from a transplant patient. From 1974-1976, Bob completed his pediatric surgery fellowship at the Boston Floating Hospital. Dr. Chisholm told Bob about an overworked pediatric surgeon in Rochester, New York, named Tom Putnam who was looking for an associate, as his senior partner, Bob White, was retiring.
On Valentine's Day, 1976, Bob and Pat drove to Rochester to meet Tom and Barbara Putnam. The bond was formed and continued for the next 17 years until Tom retired. ln the summer of 1976, Bob and Pat, along with their 4 children, moved into the house at Old Farm Circle, All of the pediatric and surgical residents, nurses, attendings and sub-specialists know that house well, as it was the site of the annual Emmens 4" of July swimming party,
As soon as Bob arrived in Rochester, his new partner, Tom Putnam, and the senior partner, retiring Bob White, left town on vacation. That weekend, Bob was faced with his first case of meconium peritonitis. It was a somewhat frustrating initiation, as Bob had to stop at the Mobil gas station to get directions to Strong. Once he found the operating room, he needed to explain in his own persuasive manner to the anesthesiologist why the case needed to be done over the weekend, rather than electively the following week.
In 1981, Bob joined the Board of Directors of RIPA, then affiliated with Preferred Care, a new entity called an HMO. Two years later, he was asked to serve on the Board of Directors of the HMO as well. In each organization, he served on the finance, audit, executive, and negotiating committees. He served as vice chairman of the Board of Directors of Preferred Care and was elected president of the Board of Directors of RIPA, a position traditionally held only by primary care physicians. In 1993, he retired as president of RlPA because he was then the only pediatric surgeon in Rochester. However, he remained active on the Board and committees. He was then asked to be president of Crossbridge. He also joined the Board of Directors and became medical director of Mercy Flight. As if Bob wasn't busy enough, he also found the time to serve the Rochester Academy of Medicine as president in 1988-1989.
From 1976-1993, Bob was one of only 2 pediatric surgeons in Rochester and took call every other night and every other weekend. After Tom Putnam retired, Bob took call. Every night and every weekend until his retirement in 1999.
Bob and Pat have successfully and proudly raised 4 children, all of whom are similarly raising families of their own.
In the decade before Bob retired, he was clearly a role model for pediatric surgery, as 5 of the chief residents in general surgery went on to complete fellowships in pediatric surgery. ·
Despite his incredibly busy and productive career, Bob also found time to publish numerous scientific articles related to pediatric surgery. In the early 1990's Bob developed an alternative surgical procedure for gastroesophageal reflux in severely neurologically impaired children. The Emmens procedure, esophagogastric disconnection, was published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery in 1999 and has since become popularized internationally.
Since retirement, Bob and Pat continue to scuba dive. Bob has taken up sky diving and is working toward reactivating his pilot's license. In addition, he is improving his golf game. Bob also has a unique collection hobby. Rather than antiques or the like, Bob collect, frogs, a bobby that began when he and Pat were living in Boston. At the present time, there are approximately 1000 statues, models, or frog toys in their house, Bob also enjoys spending time with his children and his 8 grandchildren.
On behalf of the Rochester Academy of Medicine, I am honored to present this citation to Dr. Robert Emmens. On behalf of the pediatricians, family practitioners, pediatric sub-specialists, pediatric and surgical residents, nurses, students, and thousands upon thousands of children and their families that you cared for, we congratulate you on this well deserved honor. We thank you for your incredible dedication as a superb pediatric surgeon, teacher, colleague, and role model. Your career is summed up by your license plate "IAM4KIDS"
