Robert J. Lichtefeld

Lichtefeld, Robert J.,

87, who served as executive director of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association from 1965 to 1978, died Oct. 23 after a brief illness.

The son of a pharmacist, Mr. Lichtefeld was a 1953 honors graduate of the University of Kentucky, earning a bachelors of science in pharmacy. He received a masters in public health degree from the University of California Berkeley in 1959. In 1965, he was working as an inspector for the Board of Pharmacy when the long-time executive director of the pharmacists association died suddenly. Mr. Lichtefeld was chosen as his successor.

"Bob stepped into a leadership void," said Robert McFalls, who is the current executive director. He cited construction of a new association building among Mr. Lichtefeld's major achievements. The association named him Kentucky's "pharmacist of the year" in 1966. Mr. McFalls interviewed Mr. Lichtefeld in 2014 for a video that can be viewed at bit.ly/BobLichtefeld.

Gloria Doughty, a retired pharmacist who worked with Mr. Lichtefeld 50 years ago, described him as a leader who "saw potential in people" and put them to work. She said his encouragement was crucial to her becoming the first female member of the Board of Pharmacy. A life-long bachelor who lived in the same modest apartment in Frankfort for 50 years, Mr. Lichtefeld was a Cincinnati Reds fan who watched a lot of baseball on TV. He was also a car buff who kept years of back issues of Car and Driver Magazine within easy reach of his favorite chair. "Until recently, he always had a car of his own special choosing," said one of his nephews, Geoff Keenan of Cincinnati. "He could tell you exactly why he bought the car he bought."

Mr. Keenan recalled how Mr. Lichtefeld and his siblings cared for their mother, Martha, before she died at 98 in 1994. "He was very attentive, tender and caring," he said.

Earlier this year, the pharmacists association voted to award Mr. Lichtefeld one of only 15 Lifetime Memberships in the association, a significant honor in a state with 8,000 registered pharmacists. Mr. McFalls said the group hoped to surprise Mr. Lichtefeld with the award last Wednesday, but that he had not responded to phone messages. The association sent a copy of the certificate to Mr. Lichtefeld's family this week. It was dated the day he died.

Survivors include two nephews in addition to Mr. Keenan, H. John Lichtefeld of Boardman, Ohio and James Lichtefeld of Louisville; two nieces, Martha DeJaco of Louisville and Carol Mitchell of Boston, Ma.; and the widow of nephew Brendan Keenan, Karen Keenan of Cincinnati.

Services will be private. The family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society. Ratterman and Sons, 3800 Bardstown Road was entrusted with arrangements.