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Beloved family patriarch, dedicated clinician, loyal colleague and trusted friend, Robert Don Beckenbaugh M.D., died peacefully Friday, April 24, 2020, at Saint Marys Hospital.
Dr. Beckenbaugh was a world-renowned hand surgeon, international speaker and published scholar whose dedication to the Mayo Clinic value of "The Patient Comes First" touched countless lives during his medical career.
Bob was born in Indianapolis on Jan. 23, 1941. He grew up in Rockford, Ill., before the family relocated to Racine, Wis., where he graduated from Horlick High School in 1959 and married his first wife and mother of his five children, Mary Susanna Light.
He graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School in 1966 and completed his Internship year at Maricopa County Medical Center in Phoenix during the height of the Vietnam War. He was accepted into the military deferment program to complete his Orthopedic Residency at Mayo Clinic prior to serving as a Major in the US Army and was stationed at Darnell Army Hospital in Fort Hood, Texas from 1971-73, where he treated injured soldiers returning from Vietnam. He returned to Mayo Clinic in 1973 to complete a fellowship in hand surgery before becoming a consultant and professor in the Department of Orthopedics Surgery until he retired as Professor Emeritus in 2009.
Throughout his career, he was internationally known as an incredible contributor to the field of Hand Surgery for his clinical expertise, extensive research and leadership in professional organizations and activities.
In addition to his love of medicine, he was a lover of life. He married Dana Gimbert in 1984 and they were the gracious hosts of many celebrations with family and friends.
After retirement, he and Dana spent their winters in Tonto Verde, Ariz., where they continued to host family and friends in their home, while "Dr B" continued to provide medical guidance to his neighbors.
He was a 50+ year member of the Rochester Golf and Country Club. He loved to golf and play cards with a close group of friends who called him "Bobby." He was a true Vikings fan and all around football and golf enthusiast. He was a connoisseur of the perfect donut and the best pizza. He perfected the "Bobby Burger." He was brilliant, respected, personable, funny and loved. He will be missed.
Beckenbaugh is preceded in death by his father, Don, and mother, Virginia of Laguna Nigel, Calif. He is survived by his wife, Dana; sisters, Sue Duesler and Judy Corbett; children, Lynne (Ted) Lillie, Jenifer Nelson, Jeff Beckenbaugh, Mindy (Nick) Goodman, and Mark (Kari) Beckenbaugh; grandchildren, Kristina (Pat) Blanda and Ted Lillie, Sam and Karlee Nelson, Ben and Amelia Beckenbaugh, Ava Goodman, Amanda, Aaron and Blake Beckenbaugh; step grandaughters, Gabi and Emma Hale; and great-grandsons, George, Walter and Harold Blanda.
A celebration of Dr. B's life will be held at a future date.
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