Robert Carton M.D.

1920 - 2016

Dr. Robert Wells Carton (Bob) of Winnetka, 95, died on Monday, August 15 in Evanston, Illinois. Born on November 22, 1920 in Lake Forest, Bob attended the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut and graduated from Princeton University in 1942 with honors in Chemistry. He graduated from Northwestern University Medical College in 1946 through the Army Student Training Program. After graduation, he was ordered to San Antonio, Texas where he worked as a ward officer at Brooke General Hospital at Fort Sam Houston. Later, Bob served at Fort Roots Veteran's Administration Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. While in San Antonio, Bob met and married Jean Aubrey Keating of San Antonio. Discharged in 1948, Bob and Jean returned to Chicago where he completed a three year residency in internal medicine at the Cook County Hospital. After finishing his residency, Bob established an internal medicine practice, organized a laboratory for the study of pulmonary function at the Chicago State Tuberculosis Sanatorium, and served as Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois Medical School. In 1971, he joined the team to restart Rush Medical College as Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean for Medical Sciences and Services. Bob served sequentially as Associate Dean, Chief of the Section of Pulmonary Medicine, Director of Respiratory Therapy and from 1982-1984 as Acting Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at Rush Presbyterian St. Lukes Hospital. On his 65th birthday in 1985, he resigned from Rush and enrolled in the Divinity School at The University of Chicago. After graduating with a Master of Arts in Religious Studies with a focus on Medical Ethics, Bob taught, consulted and wrote on medical ethics as a member of the Department of Religion, Health and Human Values at Rush Medical College from 1990-1994. During his career, Bob served on a variety of boards, including the Chicago Lung Association, and was active in the management of several local foundations. He enjoyed reading, writing papers, walking with his dogs, fishing, sailing, and maintaining close ties with his extended family. Married to Jean Keating Carton until her death in 2014, Bob is survived by four children, Barbara W. Carton of Jamestown, Rhode Island; Margaret C. Stanley (Harlan) of Winnetka, Illinois; James A. Carton (Allison Mankin) of Bethesda, Maryland; and Aubrey C. Lande (Arthur) of Boulder, Colorado, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on September 15 at 4 pm at Christ Church, 784 Sheridan Road in Winnetka. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Chicago Divinity School, 1025 East 58th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637.