Doctor Robert A. Dolehide Leaves a Legacy of Healing

During young Robert Dolehide’s senior year at Chicago’s De La Salle High School in 1942, a Christian Brother offered him a chance to forego second semester and enroll in Saint Mary’s College in Minnesota if he “could pass the Navy exam.”

On May 17, 2014, accepting the school’s Presidential award for outstanding merit Dolehide recounted an “extraordinary opportunity” that led to his life in medicine. The Navy veteran’s acceptance speech transported the Union League Club of Chicago audience back seven decades when young men in their teens served in World War II.

Dr. Robert A. Dolehide, 93, died of natural causes Monday evening, March 23, 2019 surrounded by the large family he and his wife, Eileen, raised in Chicago’s Morgan Park neighborhood and Saint Walter’s Parish, a short walk from his family practice.

A native of Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood, Dolehide attended school in the parish of St. Dorothy Roman Catholic Church before De La Salle.

According to Dr. Dolehide’s speech, at mid-term, a select few seniors were afforded the opportunity to begin studies at Saint Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota. He and a handful of others from LaSallian Christian Brothers’ schools in Chicago relished the challenge.

Known as the “88 Day Wonders” the young recruits were elevated in one college semester to officer status and sent to World War II. He graduated from Saint Mary’s in 1947, the same year he was accepted to Loyola University Medical School, graduating in 1951 and setting a course that would begin as an internist/hematologist at Cook County Hospital. At the time, the hospital was internationally renowned for its size and stature.

Dr. Dolehide began his private medical practice in a building near 111th Street and Kedzie Avenue and then joined forces with his brother, Eugene, a general surgeon, in a building they constructed at 11250 South Western Avenue in 1963.

“We thought our office should be centrally located,” Dr. Dolehide told a reporter for a local paper. “Over the years, we had the pleasure of working with many doctors from Little Company of Mary, St. Francis and Mercy hospitals.”

In 2013, the building was razed and a new state-of-art medical center, Metro South, was opened with great zeal. Known to his patients and staff as Dr. Robert, and to his friends as “Bob” he practiced at that location for more than five decades, working alongside his son, Dr. Kevin Dolehide, for more than two decades.

“My dad was my best friend and the best partner,” said Dr. Kevin. “In all those years, there was never a harsh word between us. I miss him.”

Playfully, the word “relentless” was applied to Dr. Robert, as in “relentlessly positive.” He was a patient and tireless man of medicine – “motivated” he said, by Mother Teresa’s words: “We must be sincere and treat people one on one.”

After more than 50 years of helping people in his local Beverly/Morgan Park community, the still spry 88-year old retired officially December 1, 2013 from the medical practice he founded.

He took his first extended vacation with his wife of 66 years. He and Eileen raised eight children and were blessed with 46 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

“I married my trophy bride first,” said Dr. Robert

After a Christmas with family, the two caught their collective breath in Florida during a Chicago 2013 winter to forget.

During his career, Dr. Dolehide also served as medical director of pulmonary medicine at several area hospitals and served as a mentor to medical residents and third- and fourth-year students from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Rich in humor, Dolehide found irony in the changing times. In his office he would amuse visitors with an American Medical Association Journal from the early 1960s that featured a survey article ranking American physicians’ favorite cigarette.

When asked if he ever smoked a cigarette himself, he replied softly: “Well, they were free in the service.”

Although the medical field changed drastically over his decades of practice, Dr. Dolehide’s compassionate and gentle bedside manner was a constant. He credited his career longevity to his wife Eileen, whose contributions to church, right-to-life campaigns and family helped offset long hours and weekend rounds at the hospital.

In addition to his patient duties, Dolehide was active in the Illinois Catholic Medical Association and the Knights of Malta, a 1,000-year-old religious organization which ministers to the sick and the poor. Dolehide chose to help the Port Ministries at 51st Street and Ashland Avenue.

According to the Knights of Malta newsletter, “Dr. Robert and his wife, Eileen, were instrumental in establishing the Port Clinic in 1999 and continue to volunteer many hours there to provide basic health care for the uninsured and the homeless. The Dolehides, along with sons Brian and Kevin, provide additional support for the ministry by donating all the profits from the annual fundraiser they host at Kennedy Park on the day of the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade.”

The couple remained hands-on in support of Port Ministries. One Saturday a month, Dr. Dolehide would see patients at the clinic, and wife Eileen would help distribute meals from the bread truck or volunteer at the family center.

The Dolehide couple dove deeply into the Right to Life movement in the 1960s; they were never afraid to take a stand on issues important to them. They were frequent guests to the cutting-edge Kup’s Show, a WTTW television production hosted by Chicago Sun-Times columnist Irv Kupcinet.

Dr. Robert and his brother, Dr. Eugene Dolehide, began practicing together in 1963 at the group’s current location at 11250 S. Western Ave.

Dr. Robert, as he was known in office, received his medical degree from Loyola Medical School in 1951. He began his medical career as an internist/hematologist at Cook County Hospital and later served as medical director of pulmonary medicine at Little Company of Mary, St. Francis and Oak Forest hospitals. He also practiced in general internal medicine and mentored medical residents and third- and fourth-year students from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Kevin said that one of his father’s many strengths was his ability to listen to his patients and treat each one of them individually.

“My dad sees the goodness in people and in life,” Dr. Kevin said. “He sees Jesus in every patient, and he makes each person feel that he or she is the most important person at that moment.”

On the eve of Memorial Day, 2014 the City of Chicago renamed the street sign in front of Metro South for the three Dolehide doctors who practiced there on Western Avenue.

At the unveiling, Dolehide captured the tenor of the patriotic weekend with a short speech of appreciation for others, which included:

“We got out of De La Salle High School in January of 1942, passed a Navy exam and entered Saint Mary’s so we could serve during World War II,” said Dolehide. “I say I’m privileged because I made it back.”

Robert A. Dolehide, M.D., age 93; WWII Navy Veteran; beloved son of the late John and Marie (nee Benner); cherished husband of Eileen (nee Carroll); loving father of Robert Dolehide, John Dolehide, D.O. (Laura), Maureen Bland (Robert), Michelle Serino (Michael), Brian Dolehide (Mary Catherine), Kevin Dolehide, D.O. (Mary Eileen), Kathleen Dezell (Peter) and Mary Stoll (the late Stephen); cherished grandfather of Robert, Conor, Margaret, Moira, John, Colleen, Kelly, Patrick, Brigid, Erin, Caitrin, Brendan, Liam, Brian, Peter, Mia, Margaret, Timothy, Alexander, Charles, Grace, Kathleen, Andrew, the late Morgan, Genevieve, Mary, Meredith, Courtney, Brian, Caroline, Stephanie, Alexandra, Kerri, Paul, Luke, Mark, Katherine, Elizabeth, Kevin, Stephen, Christopher, Peter, Madeleine, Joseph, James, and Eileen; preceded in death by his siblings Rev. John Dolehide, O.P., Eugene Dolehide, M.D., and Norinne Nicholson; uncle of many nieces and nephews. Funeral Monday 9:00 A.M. from Modell Funeral Home, 7710 S. Cass Ave., Darien to Our Lady of Peace Church. Mass 10:00 A.M. Int. Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Visitation Sunday 3:00 – 8:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations to Illinois Right to Life Action, P.O. Box 511, Chicago, IL 60690 or https://illinoisrighttolife.or... are appreciated. For funeral info: 630-852-3595 or www.modelldarien.com.