Robert Freeark Obituary

Freeark, Dr. Robert J. of Riverside, died December 12, 2006 at the age of 79. He was former Chairman of the Dept. of Surgery at Loyola University Health System. After serving in the Marines at the end of WWII, Freeark earned his medical degree from Northwestern Medical School, and after completing his internship and residency at Cook County Hospital, he joined Northwestern's Dept. of Surgery. He became Director of Surgery at Cook County in 1958, and during his tenure established the first trauma unit in the country in 1965, and their Burn Center and heliport. In 1968 he was appointed by Governor Ogilvie as Hospital Director at Cook County. He also designed Illinois' state-wide trauma network. Freeark served as president of numerous surgical societies, as Director of the American Board of Surgery, and President of the American Assn. for the Surgery of Trauma. Among the honors he received were selection as one of Chicago's Ten Outstanding Young Men, the Alumni Medal from Northwestern University Medical School and the Stritch Medal of Loyola University. He was a dedicated and creative teacher and a surgeon committed to care for patients with diverse and challenging illnesses and injuries. Freeark and his wife Ruth (nee Nelson) had a love of the arts and worked to insure that art occupied a prominent place in the community. Growing out of this, he and Ruth founded the Riverside Arts Center. A lifelong fitness advocate, Freeark also started and owned the Oasis Women's Fitness and Spa in La Grange Park. In addition to his wife, Freeark is survived by daughters, Kristine (Robert Zucker) and Kim (Henry Ryan); brother, Fredric; granddaughter, Katherine; and many step-grandchildren in the Ryan and Zucker families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray H. and Lizette (nee Stauffer); and his older brother, Ray, Jr. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Freeark Scholarship Fund, Loyola University Health System, 2160 S. First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153 or to the Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy, Riverside, IL 60546. A Memorial Service will be held at 5 p.m., on February 10th, at the Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 875 Lake Street, in Oak Park with a reception following the service.