Richard Percival Bigelow, MD
1929-2015
Richard Percival Bigelow, MD died peacefully at his home in Salt Lake City on Friday October 30, 2015. He was 86 years old.
Richard was born the youngest child to Margaret (Meldrum) and Percival Bigelow in Provo, Utah, on March 10, 1929. He was the size of a quart jar.
He attended BYU and the University of Utah for his undergraduate education and obtained his medical degree from Cornell University. Upon graduation he served as a captain in the US Army. Thereafter, he distinguished himself in his profession as an internal medicine physician, devoting himself to the care and treatment of his patients.
Richard married his beloved wife, Suzzanne Fiske, on June 12, 1953. They celebrated 54 years together, rearing their seven children and sharing a deep affinity of values, cultural appreciation, and friendships. Throughout his life he cultivated his fine musical sensibility as a pianist, organist, and musical enthusiast, supporting the Utah Symphony and many other local musical organizations. He developed his talents as an artist later in life, creating many masterpieces in the style of Jackson Pollock that are treasured by his children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Margaret and Percival Bigelow; his siblings Joseph, Lavell, Afton, and Ruth; and his wife Suzzanne Fiske Bigelow.
He is survived by his son Sean (Allison) of Cleveland OH; his son Barclay (Kris) of Sandy UT; his daughter Brooke (Jim) of Salt Lake City UT; his son Ian (Sonoe) of Salt Lake City UT; his daughter Paige of Salt Lake City UT; his son Christian (Sandra) of Glendale AZ; and his daughter Eyre Wolfe (Jon) of San Luis Obispo CA; and his 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
For details of the memorial service to be held on Wednesday November 4th, please check the Larkin website, www.larkinmorturary.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Salt Lake Tribune on Nov. 1, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Bigelow

Sponsored by Larkin Sunset Lawn - Salt Lake City.

7 Entries

Jeff Woodbury

November 7, 2015

Dear Barclay, your lovely family, and all your wonderful brothers and sisters, for whom I have only the fondest memories and deepest respect.

I was so sorry to hear of your father's passing.

I have the most amazing memories, mostly of musicality, every time I visited the Bigelow home while growing up in Salt Lake.

There was of course the swimming pool that your dad found a way to insert with surgical precision into the backyard, almost like a crystal, hemmed in by the house, garage, and the now way-to-narrow-for-side-view-mirrors driveway, and watching him take flying leaps into the pool to reemerge at the surface with a huge laugh and wry smile, no doubt in amazement that he pulled another one off without hurting anything. Clearly a heritable trait. But I will never forget how he would later reemerge at the piano, and the intensity of Chopin music that surging and crescendoing throughout the house, ebbing and flowing like waves from an artistic tempest.

And then there was of course this real storm. One that whipped up wind and rain that slashed and collapsed tents the night we were invited to join in on a Bigelow family camping trip down near Goblin Valley. The most unforgettable thing about that storm was what happened the next morning. As I opened our battered tent and emerged into the glint of sunlight curious to survey the carnage, my attention was immediately wrenched away from the comedy of brightly colored bits of nylon strewn about by the almost surreal notes of music echoing off the red rock walls. I turned to catch sight of the source. It was Richard, off in the distance walking down the wet road, playing his recorder, almost as if the storm had not happened. It did, but Richard now gave the experience a magical, almost mythological quality.

What a great and accomplished man, father, grandfather, and role-model who inspired artistry in everyone his life touched.

With much love,
Jeff, Debbie, and Cali

Nancy Owen

November 4, 2015

My Step-father Victor, was just one of his many patients. Victor set high standards for himself, and he found these great values in Dr. Bigelow. After all these years I haven't forgotten the professionalism and honor Dr. Bigelow showed Victor. May these beautiful thoughts and memories guide you in this difficult time.

November 3, 2015

to the Richard Bigelow family

I offer my condolences on hearing and reading in the Tribune of your fathers' passing.
I was a snow bird for many years to the Palm Springs area. I met your father after meeting your mother at the ward in Palm Springs where we attended. I often played tennis with him in the courts at their condo. Your Dad also knew every bike path in the valley and loved to show me the shortest way to get from here to there. It was fun to be with him.
He often spoke with love and pride of his family.
With kindest regards, love and sympathy.
Burns Wood
Box 4510, Taber Alberta, Can. T1G 2C9

Kim Thomas

November 3, 2015

Barclay, Kris, Britt, Rex, and Beau--

I am so sorry for the loss of your father and grandfather. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Kim (Robison) Thomas

Greg Asher

November 2, 2015

I am so sorry for the loss of a very good friend.

Kay Westley

November 2, 2015

Dr. Barclay Bigelow and family,

I am very sorry for the loss of your father. If he was anything like you (Dr. Bigelow, who I also refer to as Dr. B.) then he was a wonderful man and human being. My thoughts are with you.

November 1, 2015

Sean, Barclay, Brooke, Ian, Paige, Christian and Eyre, What a shock to see that your Dad (Dr. B. to the rest of us) has passed away. Oh the memories of my association with him. The scout trips and listening to him play the piano and organ. They are endless and most precious. He really was a good person who no matter how much trouble Barclay and I got in, would always welcome me to the house. Penrose Dr. So many good memories there as well.

My thoughts are with each of you today. I know how much he loved each of you and how much you loved and respected him. He will be missed by all the young men who grew up in our neighborhood.

Thanks to each of you for the privilege it was to speak at your Mother's funeral. Now they greet each other again. Wish we could all see that moment!

Warmest regards to each of you.

Joel VO

Showing 1 - 7 of 7 results