Robert B. Wright, MD

He is survived by his wife, Jill; children Elizabeth and Stuart, who is a captain in the US. Army; a brother, sister and numerous nieces and nephews.

Following are remarks made at services for Dr. Wright.

I am honored that the Wright family has asked me to speak a few words about Bob as a physician. I have been blessed with the opportunity to practice medicine with Bob Wright for over 17 years.

I've heard it said many times about him, particularly recently, that, "They just don't make 'em like that anymore." In the next few minutes, I would like to share a glimpse of why that carries some truth for me.

Bob's father and grandfather were physicians. His grandfather was a true classic "old time country doctor" complete with black bag, old microscope, and the works.

Bob's father had a dream to become a surgeon, but WWII caused him to miss his training, so he also became a general practitioner. In many ways, Bob fulfilled his father's dream by becoming a prominent surgeon, yet all the while embodied the gentleness and compassion of an "old time country doctor" that was his family's legacy.

This gentleness and compassion was truly always present in the way he carried himself as a physician.

He made house calls up to the end. He was always calming in situations where his patients often faced terrifying diseases, or their own self- consciousness about the body parts being addressed.

I was one of those patients when I faced the prospect of my own vasectomy. Bob's calm hand helped me in more ways than one, and I will always be grateful.

As one who referred patients to Bob, I always knew my patients would have their medical, their surgical, and their emotional needs met. For a physician who often needed his help, that was a relief that is hard to describe. My patients loved him. Can it truly be that "They don't make 'em like that anymore?"

Bob was a leader in his medical world by the quiet example he set. He served his medical staff in many ways over the years. He served his medical group as a board member and as a mentor of new physicians, including those he brought in to assume his practice on retirement.

Never boastful, never loud, Bob earned and received our respect through his integrity and his actions. Sometimes it seems that "They just don't make 'em like that anymore."

In so many ways, Bob represented the best of medicine. To the outside world, he was a shining example of what our profession can be, and perhaps used to be.

Within the profession, he served as an inspiration for us all in the way he found joy and peace amid the challenges that are medicine today. I would submit that if Bob were here today, he would ask us not to let it be true that "They don't make 'em like that anymore."

I think he would want us each to step up to the example he set, such that at the end of our lives, people would say, "They do still make 'em like that."

That would be one of his greatest legacies.

— Don Wreden, MD