Richard L. Pokorny

Richard Louis Pokorny, MD, of Spokane passed away in the early morning hours of 8 June 2013 at the Hospice of Spokane after a long battle with acute myelogenous leukemia. He was surrounded in his final hours by his loving wife of 63 years, Vivian, and his three children, Brad, Diana, and Alan. Dr. Pokorny, who preferred to be known as Rich, was a veteran of World War II. He had a long and successful career as an anesthesiologist in Spokane. In retirement, he was active in the First Presbyterian Church, the Spokane Camera Club, and as a museum docent. Born 27 March 1924 in La Crosse, Kansas, Rich was the fourth and youngest son of Charles and Roberta Smith Pokorny. After graduation from La Crosse High School in 1942, Rich volunteered for service in the US Navy. He was assigned to the USS Whitney (AD-4) in the South Pacific as a signalman but was later selected for officer's training through the V-12 program, and was sent to Washburn Municipal University in Topeka, Kansas, where he received a BS degree in 1947. Rich graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1950. During his senior year there he met the love of his life, Vivian Decker, RN. They were married in June 1950 and enjoyed a long and wonderful life together. After completing his training in anesthesiology in 1953, he joined the US Army Medical Corps, where he served as the Chief of Anesthesiology at the US Army General Hospital in Nurnberg, Germany in 1954-55. In 1957, he and his family moved to Spokane where he joined the Physician Anesthesia Group. Rich's career as a physician was marked by a high degree of professionalism in service to his patients and numerous positions of leadership in local, state, and national medical societies. Over the course of some 35 years as a working physician, he was a member of the board of directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, president of the Washington State Society of Anesthesiologists, and president of the Spokane County Medical Society. Rich always enjoyed singing in choral groups, and he was a member of many school and church choirs. Joining Spokane's First Presbyterian Church in the late 1980s, he was a member of the Chancel Choir. He has also served at First Presbyterian as an Elder, as Chair of the Worship and Music Committee, on the Church Evaluation Committee, and the Men's Program committee. He was president of the Senior Adult Fellowship, known as "Keenagers." After his retirement in 1985, Rich and Vivian traveled extensively for a number of years; their favorite trip was a safari in Africa. His hobby was photography and he belonged to the Spokane Camera Club; for a number of years he directed the IECPSA's Youth Show Case. He also served as a docent for many years at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. Rich and Vivian were further blessed with three children and seven grandchildren. Brad, born in 1954, currently resides in Durham, NH, with his wife, Ruwa. They have two sons, Remz and Zane. Diana, born in1957, currently resides in Studio City, CA. She has two daughters, Sophie and Zoe. Alan, born in1961, resides with his wife, Valerie Logsdon, in Spokane. They have two sons, Trey and Logan, and a daughter, Annie. In lieu of flowers, Rich had requested that donations be sent to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Hospice of Spokane, or the First Presbyterian Church. A memorial service has been scheduled for 2 pm on Wednesday, 12 June, at the First Presbyterian Church, 317 South Cedar St., Spokane. March 27, 1924 - June 8, 2013