Evan E. Mortimer

Retired Army Colonel and OB/GYN Surgeon, Evan E. Mortimer of North Falmouth, died on January 14 at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, FL, from complications of pneumonia. He was 78.

Mort-only his mother called him Evan-was born in Springfield, IL, in 1947 to Allen E. Mortimer and Wanda L. (Bickel) Mortimer. He grew up in Virden, IL, where he was his high school's valedictorian and an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Westminster College in Fulton, MO, where a love of science pushed him toward medical school (and joining ROTC to pay for it). He entered Boston University in 1969-quite a change for a midwestern farm boy-and spent the next four years living a double life as both a hippie medical student and a young Army officer.

In 1973, as a new OB/GYN, Mort's career began in earnest with his residency at Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis, WA. There he was set up on a blind date with fellow BU grad Rosemary Sullivan. By the second date, he knew he wanted to marry her, and they wed in Dorchester, MA, in 1975.

Mort and Rosemary were then stationed at SHAPE in Mons, Belgium, where their son Patchen E. Mortimer was born, and which sparked Mort's lifelong love of traveling throughout Europe. After a stint at Fort Sill, OK, the family settled in Columbia, MD, near Ft. Meade, where Mort celebrated the birth of their son Brendan J. Mortimer, built a home, earned the rank of full colonel at age 38, and became Chief of Surgery at Kimbrough Army Hospital.

Mort was an involved and devoted father. He instilled in his boys a love of Legos, classic cartoons, movies (especially war films and old comedies) and '60s music. He supported Rosemary's volunteer and political work, was an active Cub and Boy Scout troop leader, and spent summers on Cape Cod with his family whenever he could.

Mort retired from the military in 1991. After a fall in 1994 ended his surgical career, he shifted to public health, becoming Maryland's Medical Director for Family Planning and a guest lecturer at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.

A severe car accident in 2008 nearly ended Mort's life, but he fought his way back to health, and while his voice and stamina were never quite the same, everyone who loved him was so grateful he survived. He retired to North Falmouth, MA, with winters in Palmetto, FL, and Columbia, spending his time walking, birding, doing puzzles, playing Mexican Train dominos, and chatting with neighbors and friends. Rosemary never failed to keep him busy, and together they traveled extensively throughout Europe and North and South America. He became a grandfather in 2020, and could always be relied on for story reading and Kraft Mac & Cheese.

Mort is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Rosemary Mortimer; his sons, Patchen and Brendan; his daughters-in-law, Ellen Jenkins and Vanessa Lind; his adored grandchildren, Sidney and Ciaran E. Mortimer; his honorary daughter and her family, Susan, Hank, Kendrick, and Kellen McDonald; his sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Alex Siudyla; his sister-in-law Terry Mortimer; his brother-in-law Frank Sullivan; and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his father Allen, his mother Wanda, his brother Gregg Mortimer, and his sister Mary Kim Mortimer.

Visitation will take place on Saturday, January 24th from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at Chapman Funerals & Cremations, 584 West Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 481 Quaker Road, North Falmouth followed by Burial at North Falmouth Cemetery.

An additional celebration of life will be held in Maryland in late March; details TBD.

Contributions in Mort's name may be made to Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands (Falmouth office), Planned Parenthood of Maryland, or the 300 Committee. The family kindly requests no flowers.