Robert Gatson Obituary

This was my doctor as a child . I remember him being very kind but also very stern when it came to taking care of myself and being educated in health. To this day I still use the same routine for what was once a severe eczema condition that disappeared years ago. Very thankful to have started my life with him available to me as a teacher. Keep resting sir .

I miss my uncle so much he was my mom´s oldest brother. I miss him coming home for the holidays and being with family we used to have so much fun . He passed the year I graduated and I will never be able to get over the hurt and how much I miss him so much . Love you uncle George is what me and my sister called him our inside joke .. I love u so much

I miss you so much uncle Bobby you are truly missed ... love Kristy

Bob was one of my closest and dearest friends in medical school 1971-1975 Columbia, MO. He was the kindest gentlest soul I’ve ever had the gift of friendship with. He very likely was a large part of my choosing pediatrics and were it not for him I would not have interviewed for residency at Children’s Mercy in KC matched there and gotten the wonderful training that informed and shaped my career. His memory will always be a blessing to me .

thank you for teaching me to sit up straight once again

thank you for teaching me to sit up straight

I am retiring from Pediatrics in one hour. I have been thinking all day of the greatest men and women who have inspired me to be the best person I could be. Bob Gatson was at the top of the list. I googled him just now and found out this terrible news. So never too late, Bob...thank you for you have done for all of us. My patients thank you and so do the future patients of physicians I have inspired because I emulated you. Thank you for an inspiring and wonderful 30 years in Peds!

I was shocked last night as I skimmed over my copy of Missouri Medical Review Fall 2005 to see the name of my dear friend and former lab partner in medical school under "In Memoriam". My wife, Doreen, and I were very close with Bob through those med school years from 1971 to 1975. I have many kodachromes, pictures in albums and fond memories of us all together during those years. He shared the birth of our first child, Bob and I both chose pediatric residencies; curiously, independently, each of us became involved in child development and behaviour in our seperate areas of the country.



The last time we spoke was 5 years ago when I phoned Bob to ask him to come to my daughter's wedding, the grown up child he had known as a baby in Columbia, MO. He could not attend and so we did not see each other again. I have tears in my eyes as I type these words for my dear friend gone; the regret I feel for not keeping in touch, the profound sense of emptiness at the loss of a fellow far too young whose kindness, humor and friendship I shall never forget.



Gary Lerner MD

Omaha, Nebraska

I just read about Bob's death in the MacMurray Alumni News. I knew him at college (I was three years younger) and thought, even then, he was a great guy. I didn't know that he had become a doctor, and obviously, from the other enties posted on this book, he certainly made a difference in many people's lives.



My condolences to his family

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY DEAR FRIEND!!



Boy do I miss and appreciate you! It is true that absence does make the heart grow fonder. It was always obvious to me that you were unique, but now that you have moved on (to bigger and better things I'm sure!), it is even more obvious. I think of you regularly and comfort myself with the wonderful memories we made. Today, I held a glass up high to you! I shed a few tears, but mostly cherished the memories and had some good laughs while remembering some of the fun things we did together. I will never forget you and what you meant to me and my family. You gave the word friendship a whole new prospective and I'll always remember what a real friend is because of you. I hope you are at peace, my dear friend--you've earned it. And, I'm counting on you to watch my back because I know you're in the position to do so. Much love to you and thanks for the memories!

Georgia (and Bryant & Jordan Ashley)

Bob was a close friend and I will never forget him. God bless him for choosing a calling that helped so many children and their families. To his family and friends, who were numerous, please accept my heartfelt sympathy and condolences.

Bob Gatson had many friends and extended family as he was not only a friend but a mentor, teacher, and always a most incredible advocate for children. His loss in our lives is enormous. It is even more so for the future children. Dr. Gatson trained many pediatricians who should carry on his example as an advocate for children.



Chris Benson

Dr. Gatson;.. it's hard to explain how good of a person he was because he would go out of the extreme to help any person who needed help. If you needed advice, he was always there to give it to you. He was such an easy person to love. I don't think there was any person didn't love him. He was a very special friend to me for over 16 years. I will miss him more than anything. I don't think he knows how much he is being missed because he was so very special.

Dr.Gatson was a great doctor. He helped little African American children to survive. If he haden't been alive on Earth their woulden't have been a better doctor to take care of me and other childern . Dr.Gatson should be honored, charished, and remembered as a great doctor. Even though he's not on Earth, he'll always be in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers.

We procrastinated getting a pediatrician until we could find the best. We interviewed Dr. Gatson at Loyola and just a few minutes later I went into labor. The first time we met with Dr. Gatson he had words of wisdom for us: Your son won't need a mobile in his crib, he'll have enough stimulation and he will be 6'1" tall. Well, we did get the mobile anyway. but he was right. 22 years later our son is 6'1". Dr Gatson was gentle yet firm; light hearted yet passionate; down-to-earth yet profound, and always a loving, caring, and excellent doctor. I loved him and so did our son. We have many fond memories of him and all of his thoughtful advice in those early years. I'm glad he was our son's first doctor. I'm glad I procrastinated until I found the best.



With great sadness and many wonderful memories.



S. Laten, Buffalo Grove, IL

I WORKED WITH ROBERT AT COOK COUNTY AS A FELLOW ATTENDING PEDIATRICIAN. MANY DAYS WE WOULD HAVE LUNCH TOGETHER (USUALLY FROM OUR FAVORITE GREASY SPOON FAT MOES) IN MY OFFICE WITH 0UR CLOSE FRIEND GEORGIA JORDAN. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE LAUGHED ABOUT ALL THE CRAZINESS AT COUNTY! HE WAS AN AMAZING DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICIAN AND A STRONG WONDERFUL MAN WHO TOLD IT LIKE IT IS. HE WAS MY FRIEND AND MANY TIMES MY ADVISOR.

I WILL ALWAYS MISS YOU MY FRIEND.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, AND WE WILL...



STAN

My twins will be 21 in August...and Bob won't be there to see how far they've come. There have been several occasions in recent years when Bob passed our house, being that he lived less than a block away, but the kids were all off somewhere when we greeted each other.

When Aaron and Alexis were 6 weeks old, my wife and I selected Bob as our pediatrician. Why? Because I work at Loyola, as did he, and I asked the RNs who THEY would select as their childrens' physician....to a woman, all said "Bob Gatson."

At the twins' first appointment, this man held each of the 5-pounders over his head, balanced them in his hands, and pointed to Alexis and said "this one will be a handful." It is the only error of judgement he ever made in an assessment! It was the boy twin that was, but is no longer, "a handful."

We were bereft when he told us he was going to Cook County, but we knew that was where he belonged. I had worked there and knew what the needs were, and with his great heart, this wonderful teddy bear of a man has served those children who were in greatest need of his care.

Our hearts go out to his family. You must know that he made differences in thousands of lives.

It is with my deepest sympathy that I extend prayers to you at your time of grief. Bob will always remain a friend. One of the reasons I am alive today is because of his advise and counsel. Both times when I was battling ovarian cancer he was a voice of reason, and comfort as he assisted me in making some difficult medical decisions. We did not speak often but, when we did, our conversations were always profound. Bob encouraged me to follow my dreams. He shared in the joy of watching me accomplish many of the goals I have for my life. I didn’t get a chance to thank him enough for being the wind beneath my wings. I will miss our valued friendship and I know you will miss your family member. God’s grace will allow us to see him again bye and bye.

Dr. Gaston you will missed. My kids will never have a more concerned and caring Dr. as you were.

To The Gatson Family and dear friends,

Please accept my deepest sympathy on the passing of Bob. We are never prepared for these painful events that come to us too soon. I knew Dr. Gatson when he was at Loyola and we worked together in administering the pediatrics clerkship for our medical students. We argued, solved problems, shared challenges and respected each other in the process of doing our work. And we laughed. I will alway remember his sense of humor, as well as his quick flash of anger when something unfair or illogical arose. He was a good and decent man. Several years after he left Loyola, I sent him a card to keep in touch and told him that my godmother had said when you think of someone,it means they need your prayers. I told Bob that in my card and said I hoped it found him well. He responded months later (when my card surfaced again on his home desk), and said he was fine, but that prayers were always welcomed. I remembered that and will continue to remember him in my prayers. May God support you through this time of grief.

With sincere condolences,

Terri Wronski

Associate Dean, Student Affairs

Loyola Univ Stritch School of Medicine