Robert Belizaire Etienne

On July 15, 1918 Robert Belizaire Etienne was born to Simone Celestine and Justin Belizaire Etienne in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Both parents preceded him in death as well as one sister, Odette Darbouze. Robert began his education in Jacmel, Haiti. He attended medical school in Port-au-Prince. Robert graduated from medical school in 1949. He arrived in the United States July 16, 1949. He started his internship at General Hospital #2 in Kansas City, Missouri. At that time he only knew two English words - you and I. With the help of many nurses, a hospital guard, and a French and English dictionary, he began to treat patients in the United States. From 1950 to 1951 he was the receiving room physician at Providence Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Later that year he arrived in Saint Louis, Missouri where he became Internal Medicine Supervisor of Medical Service at Homer G. Phillips Hospital. He served in that position until 1972. He also trained with the late Dr. Earl Williams of Brooklyn, Illinois making house calls. This was a service that he continued to provide to his patients until his retirement in March of 2003. On June 14, 1952 he was united in Holy Matrimony to Ora Clark who preceded him in death. In January of 1962 he received his medical license. He began private practice as an internist in an office on Goodfellow Boulevard and later bought the building located at 6000 Westminister. In 1967 after training at Barnes Hospital he specialized in dermatology. He was on the medical staff of Deaconess Hospital from 1962 until his retirement. On October 23, 1982 he married Janice Gregory. Dr. Etienne was well respected in his field. He was affectionately loved by the community for which he cared. He worked tirelessly in his office, area hospitals, at various nursing homes, and making home visits. Many of his patients became close friends. He was the recipient of numerous awards for service, a member of the American Medical Association, National Medical Association, Mound City Medical Forum, American Dermatology Association, a life member of the St. Louis Medical Society, Kai Delta Mu Fraternity, Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad, and Le Club Haitien de St. Louis. As a young man he became interested in classical music. His favorite compositions were Beethoven's Symphony Number 9, The Phantom of the Opera, and Madame Butterfly. He loved to travel in and out of the country. He was a prolific reader of history books with a passion for books pertaining to Napoleon Bonaparte and Toussaint L'Overture. He was a collector of many things with a penchant for luxury cars. Tienos' week was not complete without his Friday night poker game with his countrymen: Dr. Francois Charles, Dr. Dunet Belancourt, Dr. Rene St. Leger, and Dr. Jean Thomas. Most importantly a meal prepared by Mrs. Gladys Charles. Dr. Robert Etienne departed this life on Friday, December 23, 2011 with his devoted wife at his side. He was dearly loved and will sorely be missed by his family and the community he served. Dr. Robert Belizaire Etienne is survived by: his loving wife, Janice; children, Yvonne Cole (Robert), Tiffani Thomas (Nate), and Tammy Gregory; a brother, Julian (Florence) of Brooklyn, New York; sisters, Yolande Jolicoeur (Wilson) of Jamaica Queens, New York, Marie-Theresa Etienne of Jamaica-Queens, New York; grandchildren, Robert Cole II (Tamika), Dr. Ryan Cole, Mykcah Gregory-Meeks, Ashley Lauren Gregory, Michelle Courtney Gregory, Nikolaz Meeks, Navin Thomas, Giavonni Thomas; nephews, Rostand Darbouze, Gary Darbouze (New York), Michelangelo Darbouze (Angie) of Arizona; 3 great- grandchildren, Robert Cole III, Sydney Cole, and Fhyve Hopkins; dear friends, Beatrice Ryland, Arnold Stringfellow, James Howard, and Avenant Melidor; and a host of other relatives and friends. This Online Memorial has been created to commemorate the life of Robert Etienne. You are invited to add a Tribute in his memory. Please click "Sign Guestbook" below to add your own memories, reflections, thoughts or condolences.