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Robert. W. McCollum, M.D. September 13, 2010 |
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Robert. W. McCollum, M.D. 85, died at home in Etna, N.H. on Monday, September 13. Dean Emeritus of the Dartmouth Medical School, he had struggled against succumbing to a prolonged, complex illness because of his unwillingness to leave his beloved family: his wife, Audrey, a writer, retired psychotherapist and travel companion; daughter Cindy, an administrator at Memorial Sloane-Kettering Center Center; son Doug who holds a senior position in educational publishing at Pearson. His attachment to his son-in-law John and daughter-in-law Karen, as well as grandsons Justin and Zach, was also deep. He was born in Waco, Texas to a farmer and his wife. Both had 8 th grade educations but strove to provide their youngest son with first-class opportunities for education, travel, musical and artistic development. His life was pervaded by his fascination with observing his world and sharing his observations with others. This aim shaped his work as a physician, scientific researcher and educator. With a special interest in infectious diseases such as poliomyelitis, hepatitis and hemorrhagic fever, he helped to develop vaccines even as he served as the Chairman of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Yale School of Medicine. He contributed to scientific journals and worked with associations such as the World Health Organization. Yet he also declined prestigious opportunities for recognition such as honorary degrees or membership in elite societies because participation would take him away from his beloved family. As an administrative leader, he was deeply gratified by mentoring staff, students, and colleagues, and strove to reach resolutions of complex tangles through fostering consensus. Through his kindness and wit, he earned deep respect and affection from those involved. Yet although his professional life absorbed him, he developed an extraordinary balance between that, his concern about global climate change, interest in diverse habitats and cultures, and – above all, the needs of his family. His life will be celebrated later in the autumn. Contributions may be made to the Dean Robert W. McCollum Scholarship Fund, c/o Dartmouth Medical School, Office of Development, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756. Arrangements are under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, NH. Click Here To View Condolence Messages Rand - Wilson Funeral Home
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