ROBERT FURMAN

Furman Oct 23, 1918 - May 31, 2013 GREEN VALLEY, AZ Bob is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Frances; four children - Carol Lambert (Clarke), of Green Valley, AZ; Christy Furman (John McGuire), of Pueblo, CO; Robert Furman Jr. (Mary Hart), of Tacoma, WA; and Hugh Patrick Furman, of Boulder, CO; and four granddaughters - Chesney D'Avis (Greg), of Atlanta, GA; Lindsey Dougherty, of Berkeley, CA; Sarah Furman, of San Diego, CA; and Katherine Furman, of Sweden; and our beloved Corgi, Bucky. Bob was born in Schenectady, NY and graduated from Union College. In 1943, he graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and did his residency at Yale's New Haven Hospital and Vanderbilt University Hospital. He joined the Navy in 1945 and was assigned to the USS Yellowstone as the Senior Medical Officer. During the Korean War, he was recalled to active duty and retired from service in 1957 as Navy Commander. Bob was appointed the Head of the Cardiovascular Section, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, in 1952 and spent the next 18 years researching "arteriosclerosis," or hardening of the arteries. At the OMRF, Bob will best be remembered for his professionalism and his ability to build a team of very capable researchers. In 1970, the Furmans moved to Indianapolis, where Bob joined Eli Lilly as Executive Director of Clinical Research, and then later as Vice President, Corporate Medical Affairs. During Bob's medical career, he published over 175 articles in various medical journals. Bob was a member of many medical societies and associations too numerous to mention. After retiring in 1983, Bob and Mary moved first to Colorado Springs, and then later to Arizona -- Scottsdale and then Green Valley. In his later years, Bob became proficient at woodworking. His favorite activities were listening to classical music, attending Physician's Grand rounds at UMC in Tucson with retired colleagues, reading the WSJ cover to cover, and an evening cocktail. In Green Valley, Bob was active in the La Posada Forum, the La Posada Chorus, the retired physician's Journal Club, the Green Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, and Compassionate Choices -- a cause he strongly supported as a physician. As advancing age began to take its toll, Bob's passion for medicine never failed to keep his memory sharp on all things medical-related. Bob will always be remembered for his cogent questions, his organ playing, and his ability to recite all the verses of the Cremation of Sam McGee by heart. His professionalism and his insistence on excellence was a great inspiration to his children. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to the Southern Poverty Law Center.