- By Jennifer McGhee, Activities Department -
Dr. Bob Scott celebrated his 95th birthday on May 15 and a celebration it was! Joined by his friends in the Westlake Dining Room, Dr. Bob enjoyed being "served like it was Buckingham Palace!" His friends are his favorite thing about living at UVTO, and he has made a lot of them since moving here nearly 3 years ago!
Born in Crystal, North Dakota, a town of 125 people near the Canadian border, Dr. Bob grew up in the Depression. Dr. Bob's father, a general practitioner, lost all of his money in the town's bank and only had $50 when he moved a six-year-old Dr. Bob and his younger brother and sister to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The family eventually landed in Los Angeles where Dr. Bob graduated from LA High School in '33. He received a Bachelor of Arts from USC in '38 and graduated from USC's Medical School in '43.
Dr. Bob then became a Battalion Surgeon in the 69th Infantry Division. After taking a liberty ship to England during the rainy season when mud was everywhere (and socks were the most valuable item), his Division replaced one of the units that was in the Battle of the Bulge. For several weeks, Dr. Bob witnessed the devastation from the Battle. Penicillin first came out during the war and Dr. Bob gave his first shot of Penicillin to a wounded soldier. When the armistice was signed, Dr. Bob and his Division were heading to Japan, but landed in South Carolina instead.
Dr. Bob met his wife of 50 years, a Red Cross lady named Mary Louise, when working at Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver after the war. Mary Louise was a harpist who occasionally played at weddings. They had two sons, David and John. Dr. Bob is a proud grandfather of three.
Back in Los Angeles, Dr. Bob became a pediatric resident at USC's LA General Hospital. He was there during the polio epidemic when 26 people were on respirators at the same time. Luckily, the Salk shot and then the Sabin vaccine became available during this time as well.
Dr. Bob worked at the Beaver Clinic in Redlands and then the Branch Clinic in Hollywood. Dr. Branch was a well-known surgeon among the Hollywood elite, and Dr. Bob found himself, a self-described "farm boy," socializing with celebrities at parties. Dr. Bob eventually went into a private pediatric practice in Reseda for 15 or 20 years. He lived in the San Fernando Valley before moving to UVTO.
Dr. Bob continued his fight against polio as an active member (and 3 time President) of the Rotary Club. The Club's goal was to eradicate the disease worldwide. Due to the Rotary Club's widespread distribution of the oral vaccine, polio is now controlled.
Gardening (roses in particular) has been one of Dr. Bob's favorite hobbies since he lived in Minnesota. He also enjoys reading and his almost daily visits to the UVTO Convenience Store, where he is a frequent buyer and occasional substitute.
Cheers to our friend, Dr. Bob, who is always Noteworthy - especially at age 95!