Dr. Robert Richards

Robert Norman Richards, age 75, passed away at Woodside Village in Grand Forks, ND, after a long illness. Bob was born in Sunbury, PA, on August 18, 1932, the son of Norman and Dorothy Richards. Over the years, they lived in Sunbury and Williamsport, PA, San Francisco, CA, and Philadelphia, PA. They eventually settled in Williamsport, where Bob went to high school and excelled in track and field and football. He graduated in 1950 and went on to study at Princeton University in New Jersey. While there, he majored in history and played varsity football. He finished college in 1954 and enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in Philadelphia. In February 1957, he met Marie Stoeffler and they were married on August 10th of the same year. They were married in St. James Methodist Church by Marie's dad, the Reverend Dr. F. Ernest Stoeffler. Bob graduated from medical school in 1958, and went on to the Guthrie Clinic and Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA, where he did his internship and orthopedic residency. In 1962, he went to the Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, WI, for an additional year of surgery. There, he practiced until he came to Grand Forks to join the Orthopedic Clinic in 1968. He joined the Grand Forks Clinic where he practiced until his retirement in January of 1994. Bob's health declined over the following years, as he suffered from Lewy Body Disease. We have lost him ? our love, father, grandfather, and friend. During his lifetime, his patients and family were always uppermost to him and he will be sorely missed. Bob and Marie had a very special love for each other over the years of their marriage. All four of his sons made him so proud. He seldom missed any activity in which they were involved. Fishing trips to Canada were the highlights in his life. His grandchildren were extra special and always made him happy and proud. Bob was an avid reader of history, philosophy, and poetry. He always had a dictionary and an atlas at his side while reading. He had a passion for classical music, including Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart. Music flowed through his home always. Bob was preceded in death by his parents Norman and Dorothy Richards. He is survived by his loving wife Marie; 4 sons and daughters in-law and 12 grandchildren. Jeff (Sherry), grandchildren, Jessica and Eric Sosebee, Stancy, and Jed of Amarillo, TX. Norman (Sue,) grandchildren, Sam, Tom, and Fred of Madison, WI, Steve (Adelma), grandchildren, Christian and Isabela of Atlanta, GA, Daniel (Holly), grandchildren, Ethan, Alexandra, Haden and Lauren of Grand Forks, ND. He is also survived by his sister Barbara (Kenneth) Adams of Winchester, VA., and his many cousins, nieces, and nephews. In Lieu of flowers, the family asks memorials be directed to Valley Memorial Home Woodside Village or the Alzheimer's Association.