IN REMEMBRANCE
IN REMEMBRANCE : ROLAND W . RICHMOND , MD APRIL 25 , 1930-JULY 2 , 2020
The Louisville medical community lost one of its venerable members with the passing of Dr . Roland ( Rich ) W . Richmond in early July . New Jersey born , Rich attended Bethany College in West Virginia and Cornell Medical School in New York City . He then began his peripatetic lifestyle , doing a surgical internship in the military at Tripler Hospital in Honolulu , Hawaii , his ENT residency at Baylor University in Houston , Texas , and finally moved to Louisville to join the otolaryngology practice of Dr . Raymond Jones in 1962 . By chance , they had worked together at Tripler Hospital while in Hawaii , and with Ray ’ s busy practice and longstanding ties in Louisville , Rich felt it was a great opportunity . The group was further expanded in 1965 with the addition of another Tripler-alumnus , Dr . Frank Peisel , and they became Jones , Richmond and Peisel , a very successful otolaryngology group centered at St . Mary and Elizabeth Hospital for many years . Rich became known for his use of temporalis muscle flaps to close mastoid cavities and special techniques to close nasal septal perforations via a combined intra-nasal and trans-oral approach . He also introduced skin-endpoint titration testing ( a then-recent advance in allergy testing ) to their ENT practice , offering excellent symptomatic relief for their allergy patients and improved surgical results for ear and sinus surgical procedures .
Rich had many interests . Accompanied by his wife , Janice , he traveled to all seven continents . At other times , he traveled with his entire family trekking through all of North America and parts of Europe . He loved playing basketball at Lakeside Swim Club , usually against people half his age . He collected stamps and coins and was an inveterate photographer . He was once mistaken for the photographer at one of his children ’ s weddings ! He was classic in his vintage 1968 Rolls Royce which he drove around town for many years . He loved the local sports scene , being a longtime supporter of the Kentucky Colonels and the Louisville Cardinals football and basketball teams . And somewhat to the chagrin of his family sitting beside him , he was never afraid to loudly voice his opinion about the referees and umpires .
Rich was also about service . In the early years of his practice , he and his partners would make monthly trips to Central City in Muhlenberg County to offer ENT services to people in that rural community . He was the secretary of the Kentucky Otolaryngology Society for 25 years . Later in his career , he packed up equipment and medication samples and provided an informal clinic for members of his church after the conclusion of the service , freely giving help and advice . Every year the youth in his church would go on a mission trip and he ( anonymously ) would pay for them to have one “ special meal out .” His greatest service were two missionary trips that he and Jan took to India , each one lasting about three to four months . He spoke with local pharmaceutical and equipment representatives and then took cases of medical supplies and surgical instruments with him to India and , functioning as a professor emeritus , he introduced young Indian physicians to tools and techniques that they had only read about in books .
My father ’ s greatest love was for his wife , Janice , and his family . He was blessed with four children , eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren . I had the privilege of being in ENT practice with him for ten years ( 1986-1995 ). At least once a week , old patients of his would tell me a story of some special kindness towards them . These stories and letters persisted for years after his retirement . Occasionally , I was able to arrange an opportunity for him to come to the office and see one of them , and it was always gratifying .
His retirement years were spent with his wife and family , enjoying church and the arts and culture of Louisville . Everyone — family , friends and at the end , his caretakers — always spoke of his intellect and his kindness . Those are the attributes for which he would be proud and happy to be remembered . - Kenneth H . Richmond , MD
Dr . Richmond was a GLMS member for 58 years .
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