Dr. Richard L. Bishop

On the morning of Sept. 10, we lost a giant among us: Richard Bishop, MD, preeminent and model cardiologist, teacher, administrator, thinker, humanist, husband, father and dear friend. After three years of a tenacious struggle, he succumbed to cancer – the day after his 56th wedding anniversary to Sande.

Writing about Dick means trying to think of what he didn’t do. A graduate of Tufts University Medical School, he served his residency and chief residency at Baltimore City Hospitals, leading to his cardiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University. He arrived at St. Vincent Hospital/ Fallon Clinic in 1974, immediately established himself as an astonishing teacher to myself and my co-residents. He served as director of the non-invasive cardiology lab until 1985, at which point he became director of cardiology at St. Vincent Hospital and Fallon Clinic. In 1981, he created and directed the first electrophysiology lab at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, the institution where he remained professor emeritus until his passing.

Aside from his unquestionable role as the absolute go-to cardiologist at Fallon Clinic and St. Vincent Hospital for the most bewildering cardiac, and general medical cases, he also squeezed in many years on the boards of directors of Fallon Clinic, Fallon Community Health Plan and the Fallon Foundation – aside from co-directing the Myers Primary Care Institute, serving as vice president of Fallon Clinic, president of the St. Vincent Hospital medical staff and as the chief medical officer of St. Vincent Hospital. For many years post-retirement, he ran a high-powered, much sought after weekly journal club for the cardiology fellows and attendings.

Dick’s go-to role so frequently extended to providing many colleagues with general advice or walking them through personal crises. His care for family, friends, associates and patients was unceasingly exemplary, fueled by humanism, skill and humbleness. And somehow, his worldliness also included impressive athleticism and a simply amazing knowledge of history, philosophy, literature and the arts. This was exemplified, for example, by serving as a corporator of the Worcester Art Museum, a board member of the Worcester World Affairs Council and a casting director of the Shakespeare Club of Worcester.

My entire family spent invigorating decades with Dick and his family, sharing a ski house among many other things. Aside from the fun, and our endless discussions, it was simply astonishing to observe his truly unique ability to concentrate and watch him rigorously analyze whatever subject caught his interest. You would not want to have debated with him about anything, including motherhood and apple pie.

His wife, Sande, a long-time medical history contributor to Worcester Medicine, was his anchor. She and their two daughters, Crisse and Cami, their son-in-law Jeff, and their three grandchildren, were his constant source of joy.

The major teaching lecture room of St. Vincent Hospital, The Richard L. Bishop Conference and Educational Center, could not have been more aptly named. For anyone attending a meeting there, please think of Dick and his family – and be inspired.

Joel H. Popkin, MD, MACP Director of Special Services for the St. Vincent Hospital medical residency and a Professor of Medicine at The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.