Robert V. Despain M.D.
1930 ~ 2008
Robert Verne Despain, 78, passed away May 3, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
He was born October 17, 1930 in Murray, Utah to Verne L. and Edna Malstrom Despain. He married Joyce Melville in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on August 4, 1956. Later divorced. Married Gwila Conrad Nielsen July 13, 1984.
He graduated from Ogden High School, May 1948, attended Weber College for two years then served in the Swiss Austrian Mission from June 1950 to November 1952. Bob graduated from Weber College with an Associate of Science Degree in May 1952. He then did his pre-med at the University of Utah and received his M.D. from George Washington University in June 1957. Following a rotating internship at LDS Hospital from 1957 - 1958 he went into General Practice in Fillmore, Utah from 1958 - 1962. Bob then did his residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Iowa from 1962 - 1965, followed by a fellowship in external eye diseases at the Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, 1965 - 1966. He returned to Utah in 1966 and went into the private practice of Ophthalmology from 1966 - 1990.
Bob's service to his patients was exceeded only by his compassion and generosity. No one was ever turned away because of his or her inability to pay. He did exams and surgery on Leprosy patients in both Aba Zaabel, Egypt and Madras, India in 1983 and 1984. He served as Director for the Utah Society for the Prevention of Blindness from 1968 - 1974. Director of the Albert and Lottie Haas Foundation - dedicated to the care of patients and research in Hansen's Disease.
He was a Board Certified member of the American Board of Ophthalmology and was on staff at both Holy Cross and Pioneer Valley
Hospitals.
He was a member of the Utah State Medical Association, Salt Lake County Medical Association, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Pacific Coast Ophthalmology Society, Iowa Eye Association, Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group, and the Association of Proctor Fellows. He participated in several research projects and publications in his field of expertise.
Bob was an avid skier in his younger years and served on the Snow Basin Ski Patrol from 1946 - 1950. He was a certified Scuba Diver and had enjoyed diving in places such as Truk- Roatan, Honduras - The Cayman Islands - Bonaire and Belize. Some of his most memorable and enjoyable experiences were flying with his best friend Dr. Orson White. Bob had a single engine Bonanza - 8888 Alpha - and Orson had a twin engine, the two of them would fly to medical conventions and anywhere else that they could find a legitimate reason to go. They always flew in a flight of two with Orson above.
Bob is survived by his wife; two daughters, Susan (Gary) Napel,
Rebecca Despain; three sons, Eric Despain, Tony (Terry) Nielsen, Shane (Kelly) Nielsen; nine grandchildren, Tony, Chris, Jim, Whitney, Dallas, Bailey, Lindsey, Kyle and Mary; a sister, Ann (Cecil) Olson; and a brother, David (Sandy) Despain.
In keeping with Bob's wishes he will be cremated. There will be a "Celebration of Life" held at the Little America Hotel, 500 South Main Street on Mon., May 12th, 2008 from 5-8 p.m. Please join us with your memories and stories of our friend, father, grandfather, and lover. He was a Giant of a Man and we shall all miss him greatly.