Memories of Dr. Robert Clayton Gibson III | Ever Loved

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In memory of

Dr. Robert Clayton Gibson III

Portland, OR, USA

August 28, 1939 - January 21, 2021

Aug 28, 1939 - Jan 21, 2021

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Sharon Tillman

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I remember Dr Gibson very well. When St Vincent Hospital moved nearer to Beaverton the unit I worked on became the Cardiac unit. He took all of us “under his wing” teaching us all about cardiology. A truly remarakable man! muck loved for hie endless kindnesses toward the nursing staff. Always the teacher. Sharon Tillman

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Julie Gibson

Sue Ruby

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I worked with Dr Gibson starting in 1981 in the CRR, now the CICU. Dr Gibson was so kind to the patients, families and staff. He was a great teacher. Everyone liked him.

Bob’s passing will leave a hole in our hearts. My condolences to his family.

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Julie Gibson

Sue Ruby

Comments:

Julie Gibson

Thank you for sharing your memory of my dad, as well as your generous donation to Parkinson's Research. He... Read more Thank you for sharing your memory of my dad, as well as your generous donation to Parkinson's Research. He always had wonderful... Read more Thank you for sharing your memory of my dad, as well... Read more

Julie Gibson

I miss you. “No dogs allowed… you’re going to have to wait outside, Po”

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Please consider a gift to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

$350.00

Raised by 2 people

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Beth Daley-Colasurdo

Only learned of the passing of this wonderful human being today. I worked as a cardiac nurse over 20 years ago and so came in frequent contact with Dr Gibson. He always took time to acknowledge me and inquire about my Midwest roots. I always appreciated that about him,that he took the time out of his busy schedule to talk to me as if I was a casual friend. He always spoke so highly of his wife and his children. He was an excellent cardiac physician and his patients loved him. It was several years ago when my children were much younger that I unexpectedly ran into him in Sunriver at the grocery store. He invited my family to come over to his beautiful home there and gave us passes to the pool. It was such a lovely gesture and so unexpected. I’m sure it was not a big deal to him at all but it meant a lot to our family. What a very generous and kind soul.

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Linda Blackwood, RN

I had the privilege of working with Dr. Gibson in the unit formerly known as CCU years back. He was kind, a great doctor and teacher. One day he came in to our mutual patient's room and said hello but called me by another nurses' name - he quickly apologized and said that the only way he would feel better was if I responded well good morning Dr. (a doctor that sometimes he would get mistaken for ). We had a good laugh. I am so very sorry to hear of his passing. My deepest sympathies for the loss of your husband and father and for the loss of Lynn.

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Julie Gibson

Julie Gibson

Dad and Lynn-
You guys think you’re funny, huh? I ask you two to help me land a job, and I end up working at a hospital as an IT consultant. You guys got me into a hospital after all.
Lynn, I wonder if they know that scrubs make me look like a prison inmate? No matter how much I try to add that healthcare worker flair of colored long sleeves and clogs, I still look like an escaped convict. Only Lynn Gibson and the cast of Grey’s Anatomy make scrubs look sexy. Good thing I’ll be wearing business attire.
Dad, remember how I would pick out your tie in the morning when I was little? I loved being a part of your morning routine; you would lather up my face along with yours and I “shaved” with a capped razor while you did the real thing. Our trips downtown to Marios where I would do my best to outfit you in the latest 80’s fashion... You were such a good sport, wearing those pink and purple paisley ties with more Bill Cosby sweaters than any man should have owned.
There is undoubtedly going to be so much at the hospital that will bring memories of you both flooding into my heart. I am determined to open a valve in the part of my heart where you guys live. A valve that accepts not only the wonderful, proud times from the past, but also allows the sadness to settle. I must come to terms with the fact that my dad and sister are dead or I will forever be spinning around in this whirlpool of grief and pain.
I want to walk the halls of the hospital and remember going on rounds with Dad, feeling proud and important. From the switchboard exchange women to the staff at Columbia Cardiology, every single person had a kind word. I vividly remember Dr. Garrison walking out of a procedure room with a bit of blood on his scrub top. It was probably tiny, but to my 10-year-old mind, he might as well have been holding dripping brains in his hands. I remember sitting cross-legged on the floor of the echo lab or watching Dad pore over ribbons of EKG strips, using calipers to measure heart rhythm. I would often go to the office with Dad when I was sick, setting up camp in the stress-test room. I would spend the day laying down if I was really sick, or reading my horse book and eating red hots if I wasn’t too bad off. I would occasionally take the treadmill for a spin if I was bored. Lunch in the hospital cafeteria was always a treat. Dad seemed to know everyone’s name, and had a joke or a wink for them all.
Dad used to be at the “hotstiple” and used his “etstescope” to listen to hearts. Patients would go through mysterious “stets tests”. Many nights, Dad would sit at the dining room table dictating notes. “Today is ummmmmmmm March 16, 1985 and ummmmmmmm Patient Joe Blow presents with a ummmmmmmmmm irregular heartbeat ummmmmmmm… preferred course of action ummmmmmmmmmm is…”
I was both enamored and totally grossed out by the model heart on Dad’s desk. The rubber model disengaged so my father could show patients the area of the heart where their problem resided, or to demonstrate how a catheter would be threaded to remove a block during an angioplasty. It had red and blue rubber veins and arteries all over, and I would play with it with horrified respect.
Most of all, I remain amazed and proud of both Lynn and Dad for their endless care of others. They never left their patients at the hospital. They brought them home in their hearts. I could tell in an instant of his arrival home if Dad had lost a patient that day. It tore him up. Lynn was the same way. Both had huge hearts.
It reminds me of something my Mom said to me when I was pregnant with Johanna. Robert was barely one, and I worked up the courage to ask her the question that had been gnawing at me since discovering that our second child was on the way. I loved Robert so much it felt as if my heart would burst. HOW could I love another baby that much? She smiled and said, “Your heart grows to fit. You can’t imagine it, but another miracle is put in your arms and all of a sudden your heart expands to accommodate all the love.”
So now my heart must grow to hold the memories and love I have for my sister and father, along with the sadness of their absence. I hope that in time, the happy memories with overcome the sadness.

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Seth Grant

Bob....
I have thought of you SO many times over the years. As a Doc, you were gifted.
As a Father-In-Law, I've never felt more embraced. I treasure the talks we had, the times we laughed, games, holidays... being in your presence was a warm fuzzy.
I'm gonna miss the hell outta ya, Bob....

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Julie Gibson

2007, Haiti

Dad watched this video over and over again with tears in his eyes. He had no idea that it, nor its predecessor about Ethiopia... existed. https://www.youtube.com/watch…

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Julie Gibson

2013, San Francisco, CA, USA

Bob caught with his mouth full at Robert's birthday party. This is about half-capacity. :)

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John Zink

A random call... “Hey, it’s Bob, want to go mountain biking in Mexico?” We hadn’t even talked in over a year. We went. It was amazing.

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Julie Gibson

Comments:

Julie Gibson

Cousin, that is so Dad. That's kinda like you and me. "Hey Julie, it's John. I'm in San Francisco. Let's ... Read more Cousin, that is so Dad. That's kinda like you and me. "Hey Julie, it's John. I'm in San Francisco. Let's hang out." I miss him... Read more Cousin, that is so Dad. That's kinda like you and me.... Read more

James McAfee

Bob's passion for helping out the impoverished and destitute was deeply genuine and inspirational. "Dr. Bob" will forever been seen as a hero in the eyes of his thousands of patients around the world. There are not enough words to express our gratitude for his immense and unselfish generosity. We will miss you.

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Julie Gibson

Comments:

Julie Gibson

Your kind words brought me to tears...again. It means so much to hear stories of how my dad touched people's... Read more Your kind words brought me to tears...again. It means so much to hear stories of how my dad touched people's lives. And thank ... Read more Your kind words brought me to tears...again. It means... Read more

Walt Cundiff

Bob was more than fun. You never knew what to expect when Bob invited you for a hike or bike ride. One particular bike ride stands out as most memorable. We loaded up our bikes and Bob directed us to a spot along Fall River south of Bend. Fall River is a popular fly fishing stream. We unloaded the bikes and started on the trail leading from the parking lot. A beautiful ride by the river with the mountains to the west. I'm thinking that this ride was easy compared to previous rides that were more difficult and sometimes dangerous if one was not careful. The trail narrowed down to where we had to carry our bikes over down trees, etc. We came to a spot where the trail ended. Bob said follow me! Bob picked up his bike and started wading across the river. Typical Bob. He does this every time. You never know what lies ahead with Bob. He was the most remarkable man in every respect that I have crossed paths with. There will never be another Bob.

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Julie Gibson

Comments:

Julie Gibson

Thank you for sharing! I can just picture Dad carrying his bike across a river. :) I'm glad you got to be... Read more Thank you for sharing! I can just picture Dad carrying his bike across a river. :) I'm glad you got to be a part of his life. Thank you for sharing! I can just picture Dad carrying... Read more

Lewis Hicks

Shared a heart

Lewis Hicks

Robert Gibson, a man who's medical excellence as a physician was only
exceeded by his sterling character as evidenced by those whose lives
he has impacted. Thank you Muff for loving him so well.
Blessings, Lewis Hicks

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Julie Gibson

Comments:

Julie Gibson

Thank you for your kind words. My mom did indeed love him and care for him with all her heart and soul. She... Read more Thank you for your kind words. My mom did indeed love him and care for him with all her heart and soul. She gave him an incredible... Read more Thank you for your kind words. My mom did indeed love... Read more

Julie Gibson

Julie Gibson

Bob and Julie

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Julie Gibson

2007, San Jose, CA, USA

Robert Clayton III meeting Robert Clayton IV

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Julie Gibson

Julie Gibson

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Comments:

Julie Gibson

Bob's granddaughters may have inherited his silliness... Bob's granddaughters may have inherited his silliness... Bob's granddaughters may have inherited his silliness...... Read more

Julie Gibson

Julie Gibson

Julie Gibson

Helen Hawke Gibson

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Julie Gibson

Winchester, VA, USA

Kenneth and Catherine. Dear friends of the Gibson family in Winchester

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Julie Gibson

Julie Gibson

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Raised by 2 people

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Created with love by Julie Gibson (Robert's daughter).

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