Dr. Robert Eugene "Bob" Richie

May 12, 1933 ~ January 13, 2025
Born in:
Bourbon County, Kentucky
Resided in:
Nashville/Green Hills, Tennessee
Robert Eugene Richie (Bob) passed away peacefully on January 13, 2025.
Bob was born at home on the family farm in Jacksonville, KY to Orville Isaac Richie and Mayme Florence Richie who predeceased him. Following his mother’s death when Bob was 2 years old, he lived with his grandmother who lovingly raised him. At the age of seven, he began working in the tobacco fields, developing a strong work ethic that remained throughout his life. Just recently Bob “hung up his white coat,” retiring on July 31, 2024, from his work as a transplant surgeon, and later as a consultant with the organ donation/procurement program at Tennessee Donor Services.
Following his undergraduate studies at the University of Kentucky where he served as President of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, Bob attended Vanderbilt Medical School. Upon graduation in 1959, he married his first wife, Zelda Hosic Morrow, with whom he had three children: Mayme, Robert Jr., and William. Bob completed his surgical residency, also at Vanderbilt, and often remarked that these years under the tutelage of Dr. H. William Scott, Jr. formed him not only as a disciplined surgeon but also as a loyal and dependable man. Following residency, Bob, Zelda, and their then 5-year-old daughter, Mayme, moved to Keesler AFB/Biloxi MS, where Bob began a five-year stint, achieving the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel and flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force. Memorable events that occurred during this time were the births of his sons Robert and William, weathering Hurricane Camille, and the effects of the Vietnam War. Although his orders to deploy to Vietnam were ultimately canceled, the war continued to influence his service.
Following USAF service Bob returned to Nashville where he joined the faculty of Vanderbilt Medical School. He served as Assistant Chief of Surgery at the Nashville General Hospital, Chief of Surgery at the Nashville Veterans Administration Hospital, established the first training program in Tennessee for certifying EMTs, and served as Chief of the Renal Transplant Division at the Vanderbilt/VA combined transplant program. He was Professor of Surgery, Emeritus at the time of his death.
Although he had trained as a chest surgeon, his 50+ years work in renal transplant, alongside his good friend and colleague Dr. Keith Johnson brought much meaning and joy to him. Early in the days of their work, Bob and Keith often traveled to small towns in southern Kentucky and middle Tennessee, talking with groups of local physicians about the critical need for organ donation. On one occasion Keith pulled a practical joke on Bob, rearranging the order of his 35mm slides in the carousel, leaving Bob momentarily puzzled while trying to give his presentation. Bob, of course, quickly recovered, and he and Keith shared a good laugh.
His transplant colleagues witnessed Bob’s exceptional, compassionate patient care, despite the limitations of a weekly golf game. He was a storyteller, where the use of farming analogies came naturally to him in helping his patients understand the complexities of the surgical procedure and post-transplant care.
Bob married Mary Fern Tate in 1980; they moved to Foxhall Close where they formed deep friendships, supported friends through joyful and difficult times, and loved being a part of a neighborhood where a strong sense of community prevails.
Retirement brought opportunities for Bob to develop even deeper relationships with his children, grandchildren (who lovingly called him Papa), and great-grandchildren, to enjoy many rounds of golf with dear friends, to practice his skills as a nature photographer, to serve his church, and to enjoy travel with friends and family. Bob’s passion for photography was the cornerstone of capturing precious family moments by always coming prepared with a camera, tripod, and marching orders of where to stand. He passed on his love of photography to his grandchildren by purchasing each of them their first camera, passing on his favorite cameras, and sharing his vast knowledge from behind the lens. One of his favorite pastimes was sitting with family sharing photos and reminiscing together on the memories created.
Bob’s life was long and meaningful; in his later years, he wrote his life story, “From Tobacco Farmer to Transplant Surgeon,” much cherished by family members. He had a lifelong belief in the goodness of humanity. His moral compass was guided by the ethics of truth, justice, and love. These values live on through his family legacy, and through the countless lives that he touched.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife Fern, children Mayme Florence Richie-Gillespie (Stuart Speck), Robert Eugene Richie, Jr., (Kandi), and John William Richie (Cynthia); grandchildren Lauren Estelle Gillespie (Gabriel Poesia), Catrina Marie Gillespie, Grant Richie Gillespie, Kelsey Floyd Chapman (Justin), Hannah Richie Biggs (Madison), Mary Olivia Richie, Sage Emory Czerniak, Alexys Huntyr McDaniel, Riley Thomas Smith, Jr., Sylas Logan Good; great-grandchildren Elisabeth, Madeline, Zechariah, Aurora, and Atlas. Additional survivors include sister-in-law Ellen Tate Patterson, nieces Cissy Vogt Gray (Cecil), Cindy Vogt Smith, Ann Kaye Sizemore (John), Kris Richie Vaughn (Jeff), Carol Richie Bozman (Gary), Anna Patterson Fisher (Zach), and nephews Samuel Tate Patterson (Lauren), and Andrew McElroy Patterson (Ruby).
A memorial service to celebrate Bob’s life will be held at West End United Methodist Church on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 2:00 pm. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 12:00 noon. The service will be live-streamed at www.westendumc.org/livestream
Bob can be honored with contributions to the Mercy and Justice Ministries at his beloved church, West End United Methodist Church, 2200 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37203.
Arrangements in the care of Compassion Funeral & Cremation Services, Nashville, TN (615) 857-9955. We proudly remain locally owned & operated.
Services
Visitation: January 25, 2025 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
West End United Methodist Church
2200 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
Memorial Service: January 25, 2025 2:00 pm
West End United Methodist Church
2200 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
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