Robert “Bob” Eugene Westfall, MD, age 81, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home in Phoenix, Arizona on December 21, 2015 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Born on February 9, 1934 in Phoenix, Arizona, Bob was the fourth child of Harry and Ida Westfall. He graduated from St. Mary’s Elementary School in 1948, St. Mary’s High School in 1952, Arizona State University in 1956, and Tulane Medical School in 1960. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy, and his seven children: Denise Valenzuela (Jim), Theresa Anderson, Robert Westfall, Jr., Patrice Nick, Lisa Elliott (Sherman), Michelle Nilsen (David), Mary Skikos (Anthony); 24 grandchildren (Camille, Julia, Elissa, Abigail, Steven, Maren, Parker, Robert, Madeline, Jane, Ethan, Kyle, Michael, Taylor, David, Anthony, Isabel, Veronica, Blaise, Fulton, Francesca, Athena, Mary Katherine Drexel and Augustus); his sister, Carol McDermott (Don); and 28 nieces and nephews who all loved and adored him. Bob was preceded in death by his brothers, Harry and Donald, his sister, Helen Lowe and grandson, Kolbe Skikos.
Bob felt the calling to be a doctor early in life. As a physician, Bob specialized in internal medicine and pulmonary diseases. After graduating from Tulane, he did his residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. In 1965, he moved to Flagstaff and joined a pulmonary practice. While practicing in Flagstaff, he travelled by plane to remote areas of the Navajo Reservation taking care of people with pulmonary diseases. His plans were interrupted when he was drafted during the Vietnam War. From 1966 – 1968, he served at Fort Lewis, WA as a Captain in the U.S. Army. He trained other doctors in the latest pulmonary techniques and instituted the first smoke free hospital in the country. When he returned to Arizona in 1969, he joined Pulmonary Associates where he practiced for the remainder of his career as a loving presence to his patients. Bob gave back to his profession by serving as the President of the Arizona Lung Association from 1978-1979, the President of the Maricopa Medical Association in 1984, and was the Chief of Staff at Good Samaritan Medical Center from 1987-88. In 1989, he was a Laureate Award Recipient for the Arizona Chapter of the American College of Physicians. In 1999, he was recognized for his teaching of interns and residents at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. His professional commitments did not stop Bob from volunteering as Team Physician for the St. Mary’s High School’s Football Team and later in life as a physician at the St. Vincent de Paul Medical Clinic.
Bob was a passionate and caring old fashioned doctor who did house calls to his patients when he traveled near their homes in remote places in Arizona. It gave him great joy to care for family, friends and neighbors who came to his home seeking medical care. He often stopped at accident scenes to help the injured, and one time saved the life of a young boy who was drowning in a neighbor’s pool. He truly was a Good Samaritan.
Although he had a strong vocation as a doctor, Bob’s greatest joy was his family. He relished spending time with family at his cabin in northern Arizona. Throughout his adult years, he enjoyed Friday night poker games, fishing, hunting, playing tennis and bridge with family and friends, and hosting large family gatherings. As an Arizona native, Bob was a proud member of the First Families of Arizona. His family was a founding member of St. Mary’s Basilica. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Parish from 1969 to the present and was active in several Catholic organizations including the Serra Club and the Knights of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. In 1999, he was inducted into the St. Mary’s High School Hall of Fame as an outstanding alumnus who demonstrated an unwavering support of St. Mary’s beliefs and values.
Bob was a good friend and colleague to many. He had several dear friends from childhood that he cherished throughout his life. No matter where he traveled in Arizona, he encountered those he knew. He delighted in hearing about their families and sharing about his. He held his former partners in his medical practice as well as other medical practitioners in great esteem. He was a man who recognized and celebrated the good in others. Because of this, he was a joy to be around. He will be sorely missed by all who loved him.
Visitation will be held 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. and a rosary at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 28, 2015 at St. Francis Xavier Church at 4715 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ. The Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at St. Francis Xavier Church at 10:00 a.m. with a reception immediately following at the school. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that contributions be sent in memory of Dr. Robert Westfall to the St. Mary’s High School Scholarship Fund, 2525 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, 555 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles CA 90012, St. Vincent de Paul Clinic, P.O. Box 13600, Phoenix, AZ 85002, or Life Choices, 9303 N. 7th St., Suite 4, Phoenix, AZ 85020. Condolences may be made by visiting the online guest book at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com
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Theresa Wise
I am saddened to hear of Dr Westfall’s passing today. I had the pleasure of knowing him for over 40 years. I was his patient and friend and I was always reassured by his caring demeanor. He wll be missed by all the people he touched. My condolences to his wife and family. It must be difficult losing such a fine man. Memories are a legacy of love and he will always be in your hearts.
My prayers are with you all.
Sincerely,
Theresa Wise
judith newell
I had the distinct privilege of working with Dr. Westfall at Good Samaritan Hospital when I first became a nurse in 1988. I had the additional privilege of working with him at Pulmonary Associates when I joined the group in 2000. He was not only a wonderful and kind man, but an extraordinary physician – always willing to take time with the patients and staff. His expertise and understanding of the human condition made him a truly great doctor. There are really not enough superlatives to describe this kind and generous man. He touched so many lives and will be missed.
Becky Bradley
My thoughts and prayers continue to be with your beautiful family during this difficult time. I am so sorry for your loss of this wonderful man who my family was blessed to know throughout my dad’s life, Tom Bradley, as a fellow student at St. Mary’s High School. May God continue to give each of you strength and know Bob is watching over all of you.
Joyce Weber
Dorothy and Family,
Please accept my condolences for your loss. Bob was an amazing man who never gave up. He was blessed with a supportive wife and family.
Kathleen Law
Dr.Westfall was such a concerned, kind and compassionate doctor. He was my husband’s doctor for years and when we would arrive at the office, Dr. W would say, “Do you have a joke Dick?” He’d often say, “Laughter is the best medicine”, thus the question. They would sit and have a laugh or two and then get on to business. When my husband died suddenly in 1988, I received a most appreciated phone call from Dr.Westfall with words of kindness and comfort. Simply put, he was such a gentleman and “class act”.
Eileen Gannon
We are so sorry for your loss, Dorothy and family.
You are all so wonderful.
Love from The Gannons
Sharon Killeen
My condolences go out to your family. I knew his daughter Denise at Xavier and remember some fun times we had at sleepovers. My parents knew him from church and my dad became his patient and thought so highly of him and the care and compassion he had, with a good bedside manner. He will be missed, and my blessings go out to the family.
Cesar and Leonor Maderazo and Family
Our condolences to the Westfall Family.
John Jakubczyk
Condolences from the Jakubczyk family.
May he rest in the peace of Christ.
Bruce Bachus
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all your family. We fell blessed to have known Bob and you Dorothy.
May God be with you. Love Bruce and Jane Bachus
Lynda Heaphy
I was saddened to hear of Dr. Westfall’s passing. I have the opportunity to work with him @ Pulmonary Associates for a few years before his retirement. I learned much from him as a new np to the pulmonary practice. He was a compassionate and caring person. Rarely does a week go by without a patient asking me about him. They all have fond memories of him. He will live on in many hearts. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Westfall family.
Carol Tanner
Dear Dottie & Family,
We are sorry to read about the passing of Bob.
May God be with you during this difficult time.
Are thoughts and prayers with you.
Fondly,
Carol (Henn) & Roger Tanner
Prescott, Az
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Alice Porter
I was very fortunate to have been referred to Dr. Westfall as a patient after not being diagnosed properly by another doctor. Not only did Dr. Westfall diagnose me properly on the first visit but gave me wonderful advice to help stabilize my condition. He made a difference in my life! I will always appreciate his wisdom, and friendly manner.
May Our Lord and Savior hold his entire family close to His heart as you go through this time of sorrow.
Lynn Westfall
Aunt Dorothy,
Our words are with heartfelt sadness, in sympathy, for your loss. . .
I remember while growing up people would often exclaim how Dr. Westfall, Dr. Robert Westfall, our “Uncle Bob” was such a wonderful doctor, and a kind man. He will be missed.
You are in our thoughts, and our prayers.
Love Lynn, and my son Clinton
Eloise Skon
I had the opportunity to work for Dr. Westfall at Pulmonary Associates around 1983. I had just graduated from nursing college, and didn’t really know what specialty I wanted to serve in. We had in common that we were both Arizona natives, and that can be rare in this state of transplants. My name is Eloise, and he decided to call me “Lou” when everyone else called me “Ellie”. His patients loved him, and he had some very sick and difficult patients. As an asthmatic myself, not being able to breathe is terrifying. I especially remember assisting with draining fluid from cancer patients’ lungs just to give them some relief. His family should be proud that Dr. Bob used his God-given talents to serve mankind and his God. He had a life well-lived. Eloise “Ellie” Hembise-Skon, nurse
Janice Ertl - retired Clinic Director
Dr. Westfall volunteered with us at St. Vincent de Paul Clinic. He was a fine physician and a true gentleman.
William E. Gary
I first met the Westfall family when we lived two doors from each other on Coronado Road in Phoenix. Bob and I were the same age, and this was in the 1940’s, following the end of WW2. Bob, his sister Carol, and I, became fast friends. Their mother Ida, treated me like another son, so I felt very much at home in their house.
I always knew Bob was going to become a physician, because he said so. And I didn’t doubt him for a moment. About 1950, my parents moved to just east of North High School. Unfortunately, I became busy at school as I know Bob did also. As a result, we lost touch with each other.
Until I read his obituary, I had no idea of his accomplishments, however I was not surprised. I am just very proud to say that I knew this wonderful man early in our teens!
Dorothy Morton Wolfer & Joe Wolfer
We were saddened to learn of Bob’s passing recently. He was always so kind and friendly. Since my Mother’s (Laura Morton) passing unfortunately we have lost contact with the Westfall Family. You are remembered in our thoughts and prayers.