Robert Edgar Liechti M.D.

Robert Edgar Liechti was born in November 1927 in Berkeley, Calif., and died Friday, Jan. 13, 2012. Robert was one of six children. At the age of 17, being a fighter pilot began when he joined the U.S. Navy. When the War ended, he pursued his undergraduate degree in Social Work at Dartmouth, having graduated in 1949. After his return to California, he attended UCLA, where he studied pre-med and then was accepted at USC, where he graduated from Medical School. During his residency, Dr. Liechti worked at the Long Beach VA Medical Center. It was there he met Dr. Beckstrand and became a Fellow in surgery, working under Dr. Beckstrand. Upon completion of his Fellowship, he was accepted as a full-time associate of Dr. Beckstrand until 1976, when he opened his own practice performing surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy in Long Beach, Calif. At Dr. Liechti''s urging, Dr. Beckstrand founded the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation in 1974. Over the next 10 years the Foundation grew, and upon Grant Beckstrand''s death, Dr. Liechti continued its mission of serving those with cancer who are in financial need. Following the death of his own son, Rob, an additional focus of the Foundation became "Just for Kids," which provided services and support to children and families of patients with cancer. In 1989, Dr. Liechti and his wife, Alice, moved to Richfield, Utah, where he opened a small general practice and spent much of his time raising and racing quarter horses, a passion of his. After Dr. Liechti retired from the Board of the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation in 2001, he founded the National Cancer Fighter Award Foundation, to recognize physicians exhibiting extraordinary dedication and expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Dr. Liechti spent his final years in Nipomo, and is survived by his wife, Alice; daughter, Carin Light; and two grandsons Christian and Jordan. He was also blessed with two stepsons, Stuart and Daren Laureano, their loving wives, Monica and Cathy; and six grandchildren. Dr. Liechti will be dearly missed by family and friends. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, at St. Patrick''s Catholic Church, 501 Fair Oaks in Arroyo Grande. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to The Beckstrand Cancer Foundation, 20341 Birch St. #310, Newport Beach, CA 92660.