Robert Peter Prins

1943 - 2023

Anacortes - Beloved and much celebrated physician Robert P. Prins passed away May 27th from complications of Covid 19, with his loving wife Jewell at his side leaving this life after listening to the voices of all three of his children.

The son of the late Ruth Balkema Prins and Robert F. Prins, Robert was born in Riverside, CA on September 26, 1943. He spent his early life in Seattle and graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1961. After graduating from the University of Washington in 1965 with a degree in English Literature, he attended medical school at Johns Hopkins University. Upon graduation in 1969, he did his post-graduate residency in OB/GYN, receiving specialty training in high risk obstetrics at the University of Southern California/LA County Medical Center.

From 1974-1977, Robert served as a Major in the US Army in Heidelberg, Germany. In 1977, he joined the Women's Clinic in Portland, where he spent years treating and helping women, delivering babies, and being involved in amazing research, including helping to devise new treatments to help induce labor.

In 1995, Robert became The sole OB/GYN Physician associated with Island Hospital in Anacortes, WA, and soon brought others to join him. In January, 2016, he became the Chief Medical Officer for Island Hospital, as well as continuing his practice. He retired to the country life in Chewlah WA in August of 2020. His career included medical practice and surgery, significant medical research, and ultimately hospital administration.

In 1965 he married Mary "Beth" Seidl and together they raised three children and pursued an active civic life. Beth passed away in 2014. Robert took her loss very hard. Eventually, he re-engaged with his interests, one of which being literature, and found shared interest and love with Jewell Middleton. They married in 2017. Robert was an avid bird watcher, gardner, a die-hard Yankees and UW Huskies fan, and budding geologist. He loved colossal-sized Christmas trees, boating on the Puget Sound, debating anything, scotch and good red wine.

He is survived by his wife, Jewell Middleton Prins, of Chewelah, WA, his sister Debra Prins, of Seattle WA, his three children: Dr. Robert M. Prins, of Los Angeles, CA, Dr. Brandon Prins, of Knoxville, TN, and Ms. Katherine Anne Woods of Tacoma, WA. Additionally, he is survived by stepson Kieran Saunders and stepdaughter Liela Saunders, both of WA. He has 5 grandchildren: Madeline, Ainsley, Kayden, Nic and Ben.

In lieu of flower, donations in Robert's name may be made to "malheurfriends.org", a National Wildlife Refuge, or the charity of your choice. Thank you.

A memorial service is planned for sometime this summer in Anacortes. Information to follow.