Robert J. Brockhurst

Robert J. Brockhurst, M.D., of Marblehead, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, May 1, 2010, at the age of 86. Born in Montreal, Canada, he was the son of the late William and Isabel Brockhurst. Raised in Burnt Hills, N.Y., Bob was excited throughout his childhood about learning new things and keeping busy; he raised chickens, had a bicycle repair shop, and took photos for the local newspapers and Christmas cards. Dr. Bob Brock Brockhurst had a distinctive laugh that escaped through his smile as part snigger, part chortle and enlivened the boats, ski slopes, and hospital corridors he frequented. A world-renowned Boston retinal surgeon and Harvard Medical School teacher, he dedicated his 60-year career to studying, perfecting, and pioneering new treatments for retinal disorders. Dr. Brockhursts signature trait was the seemingly boundless energy he exuded in both his professional and personal lives. He often said his time at Harvard was his favored time of all. His teaching activities during his career included many lectures to Harvard medical students covering topics such as the technique of performing indirect ophthalmoscopy, retinopathy of prematurity, retinal detachment, macular disease, uveitis and gradual visual loss. In addition, lectures, papers and instruction courses were presented in local venues. Lectures were given to MEEI residents as well as to residents and staff of other Boston ophthalmic teaching centers. Many presentations were made at the New England Ophthalmological Society, MEEI Alumni meetings, MEEI Grand Rounds, Retina Foundation lectures and courses. There were also presentations given at regional, national and international venues. These included visiting professorships at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Wilmer Residents Meeting at Johns Hopkins University Medical School and Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. International presentations were given in Canada, Hawaii, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Cairo, and Perth, Australia, as well as several other countries. His research interests continued in several areas including uveal effusion (secondary retinal detachment), in which he described a new association with nanopthalmos. Later he initiated a study of the ultrastructural changes in nanopthalmic sclera which helped in the understanding of the pathogenesis of this disorder. He also introduced a new surgical procedure to correct the uveal effusion with restoration of vision. Another area of interest was the development of neoangiogenesis in diverse disorders such as sickle cell disease, uveitis, choridal osteoma, optic nerve pits, long standing retinal detachment, retinitis pigmentosa and previous successful retinal detachment surgery. He loved life, said Vija Brockhurst, his wife of 36 years. When he went to work, he was 100 percent work, and when he played, he was 100 percent play. With that balance, Dr. Brockhurst amassed a long list of accomplishments as a physician, sailor, scuba diver and world traveler. He began his surgical career at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary as a Harvard Medical School resident in 1949 and practiced at the acclaimed institution until the day he died. His prolific clinical research uncovered and put into practice treatments that have saved countless patients sight and led him to pioneer a surgical procedure that restores vision to those suffering from a distinctive form of retinal detachment. Tireless in his work, Dr. Brockhurst co-founded Retinal Associates in Boston in the 1960s, one of the largest ophthalmology practices in the country at the time, and co-authored numerous published papers and the book, "Controversy in Ophthalmology." Dr. Brockhurst further distinguished himself as a U.S. Naval medical officer during the Korean War, serving as chief of ophthalmology at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Chelsea, Mass., while continuing to see patients at Massachusetts Eye & Ear. Although settled on Bostons North Shore for the majority of his life, Bob Brockhurst was hardly a homebody. He and his wife traveled the globe scuba diving on Australias Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea, skiing in Europe, and touring ancient cities in Egypt, Greece, and Israel. Mrs. Brockhurst could have predicted an exciting life with her husband based on their first meeting. At the time, Dr. Brockhurst was preparing to skipper his boat in the 1970 Newport-to-Bermuda ocean race with a broken leg. He was hobbling around in this funny brace he had specially made so he could sail on the leg he had broken skiing, remembers Mrs. Brockhurst. He was so determined to go on the race, he wasnt going to let it stop him. That Bermuda race was the first of several he sailed in addition to many other offshore races in the 36-foot sailboat he renamed, Vija. Living just up the street from Marbleheads Eastern Yacht Club, of which he was a longstanding member, Dr. Brockhurst would ritualistically head down to the waterfront to sail, tinker, or just sit on the boat to watch the sunset. He just really lived in the moment, reflected Mrs. Brockhurst. In addition to his wife, Vija, Dr. Brockhurst leaves his son, William R. Brockhurst and his wife, Eileen, of Marblehead; daughters, Ann Warde and her husband, Tom, of Los Angeles, Calif., Betsy Brockhurst of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Fla., and Terri Lombard and her husband, James, of Swampscott; and grandchildren, Robert and Michael Brockhurst, and Kelsey and Kevin Lombard. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations in his memory may be made to the Schepens Eye Research Institute, 20 Staniford St., Boston, MA 02114; or to the Berman-Gund Laboratory, 243 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114. Arrangements are by Eustis Cornell Funeral Home, Marblehead, 781-631-0076. Please visit the online guestbook for Bob at www.eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com.