clipped from mdjonline.com'Dr. Bob' was surgeon of many talents, interests
by Marcus E. Howard
mhoward@mdjonline.com
mhoward@mdjonline.com
November 14, 2009 01:00 AM
MARIETTA - Besides being Marietta's first thoracic surgeon, Dr. Robert Thomas Sessions was known to be a man of many talents. He restored vintage Rolls Royces, crafted furniture, invented surgical equipment and rode horses, all while maintaining a notable sense of humor.
The talented physician, Bible studies teacher and accomplished mountaineer died Thursday in the home of one of his daughters. He was 79.
The talented physician, Bible studies teacher and accomplished mountaineer died Thursday in the home of one of his daughters. He was 79.
Dr. Sessions was from an old Marietta family. He practiced medicine for 33 years and saw patients in a small house near WellStar Kennestone Hospital. He was one of the few oncology-trained thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons in the state, his family said. He worked seven days a week.
WellStar President and CEO Dr. Greg Simone recalled that Dr. Sessions "was already established as one of the true leaders of Kennestone" when Dr. Simone came to the hospital in 1980 as a cardiologist.
"Bob was a real standard to follow. He was very professional, an excellent surgeon," Dr. Simone said. "For younger people, as we came on board, we looked to him as a role model. He placed patient care and their welfare above everything else, and tried to encourage the cooperation and respect among staff as well as community. He was one of the most influential leaders and really put Kennestone on the map."
Dr. Paul Payne, an orthopedic surgeon and co-founder of Pinnacle Orthopedic, said Dr. Sessions "was respected by his peers and loved by his patients."
Mary Peters, a longtime Kennestone nurse and now head recovery room nurse, remembers working with Dr. Sessions for almost 25 years. She said he was one of the premiere surgeons at the hospital. She said he was, "very demanding, but always gave credit to the nurses."
She remembers a particular incident when she was treating a patient who suffered a serious gunshot wound and was bleeding profusely. Mrs. Peters recalled having several bags of blood lined up to keep him alive. Dr. Sessions, who at times used humor to ease tension, walked in, took at look at the bags and asked in a light-hearted moment why she hadn't changed the blood-soaked bed sheets.
Dr. Sessions was born June 17, 1930. He was the oldest of four children to the late Gladys Thomas and Archibald Drake Sessions. He was raised in Chicago after his family moved to the Windy City so his father, a banker, could find better work during the Depression. He moved back to Marietta after attending the College of William and Mary, and Northwestern Medical School, and completing medical training in Seattle and Nashville.
Dr. Sessions was married to the late Jean Ann Warren for 50 years before she died in May 2006.
His first cousin, Marietta native and well-known banker Lee Sessions, said Dr. Sessions was a loving husband and family man. Dr. Sessions saved the life of Lee Sessions' son, Landon, after he was hit by a car 15 years ago in Vinings and rushed to Kennestone.
Dr. Sessions had a team of doctors waiting.
"If it weren't for his quick action, Landon would not have made it," Lee Sessions said.
Dr. Sessions was known in his early practice to accept chickens and vegetables in exchange for his services. "Dr. Bob," as he was called, also dug wells and ran health clinics in India, and treated patients in Yemen.
After his retirement, his daughter Melissa converted his office back into a house to raise her family in, making four generations of the family to reside at 811 Church St. Ext. - about a block from Kennestone. The Himalayan sloth bear that Dr. Sessions shot on a trip to India remained in place to continue startling visitors.
Dr. Sessions had many varied interests outside medicine. He was a mountaineer with more than 30 ascents of Colorado's Long's Peak. He enjoyed Contra dancing, bird watching, teaching Sunday school, and golfing.
"I consider him a renaissance man," Dr. Payne said. "He had many talents. He loved to fix cars, operated on chests. There was not much he couldn't do."
He was also enthusiastic about Rolls Royces. Dr. Sessions owned several and served as president of a Rolls Royce club, said his friend and former neighbor, William Tapp, a retired Marietta architect. He could be seen many late nights driving a 1959 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud between his home and the hospital.
WellStar President and CEO Dr. Greg Simone recalled that Dr. Sessions "was already established as one of the true leaders of Kennestone" when Dr. Simone came to the hospital in 1980 as a cardiologist.
"Bob was a real standard to follow. He was very professional, an excellent surgeon," Dr. Simone said. "For younger people, as we came on board, we looked to him as a role model. He placed patient care and their welfare above everything else, and tried to encourage the cooperation and respect among staff as well as community. He was one of the most influential leaders and really put Kennestone on the map."
Dr. Paul Payne, an orthopedic surgeon and co-founder of Pinnacle Orthopedic, said Dr. Sessions "was respected by his peers and loved by his patients."
Mary Peters, a longtime Kennestone nurse and now head recovery room nurse, remembers working with Dr. Sessions for almost 25 years. She said he was one of the premiere surgeons at the hospital. She said he was, "very demanding, but always gave credit to the nurses."
She remembers a particular incident when she was treating a patient who suffered a serious gunshot wound and was bleeding profusely. Mrs. Peters recalled having several bags of blood lined up to keep him alive. Dr. Sessions, who at times used humor to ease tension, walked in, took at look at the bags and asked in a light-hearted moment why she hadn't changed the blood-soaked bed sheets.
Dr. Sessions was born June 17, 1930. He was the oldest of four children to the late Gladys Thomas and Archibald Drake Sessions. He was raised in Chicago after his family moved to the Windy City so his father, a banker, could find better work during the Depression. He moved back to Marietta after attending the College of William and Mary, and Northwestern Medical School, and completing medical training in Seattle and Nashville.
Dr. Sessions was married to the late Jean Ann Warren for 50 years before she died in May 2006.
His first cousin, Marietta native and well-known banker Lee Sessions, said Dr. Sessions was a loving husband and family man. Dr. Sessions saved the life of Lee Sessions' son, Landon, after he was hit by a car 15 years ago in Vinings and rushed to Kennestone.
Dr. Sessions had a team of doctors waiting.
"If it weren't for his quick action, Landon would not have made it," Lee Sessions said.
Dr. Sessions was known in his early practice to accept chickens and vegetables in exchange for his services. "Dr. Bob," as he was called, also dug wells and ran health clinics in India, and treated patients in Yemen.
After his retirement, his daughter Melissa converted his office back into a house to raise her family in, making four generations of the family to reside at 811 Church St. Ext. - about a block from Kennestone. The Himalayan sloth bear that Dr. Sessions shot on a trip to India remained in place to continue startling visitors.
Dr. Sessions had many varied interests outside medicine. He was a mountaineer with more than 30 ascents of Colorado's Long's Peak. He enjoyed Contra dancing, bird watching, teaching Sunday school, and golfing.
"I consider him a renaissance man," Dr. Payne said. "He had many talents. He loved to fix cars, operated on chests. There was not much he couldn't do."
He was also enthusiastic about Rolls Royces. Dr. Sessions owned several and served as president of a Rolls Royce club, said his friend and former neighbor, William Tapp, a retired Marietta architect. He could be seen many late nights driving a 1959 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud between his home and the hospital.
"His death is a great loss to the community because he was valuable to the community and very talented in the medical field," Tapp said.
Dr. Sessions is survived by three daughters, Kimberly Hagen, Melissa Bothwell and Jean Wilund; one son, Rob Sessions; six grandchildren; two brothers; one sister and many nephews and nieces.
The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 9 pm Sunday at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta. Dr. Sessions' Silver Cloud and his 1929 Rolls Royce 20/25 Shooting Brake will be at the funeral home to view during visitation. A memorial service is planned for 3 p.m. Dec. 12 at Marietta First United Methodist Church at 56 Whitlock Ave.
"Dad's perspective of life was shaped by the view from the summit of the Rocky Mountains," Kimberly Hagen said. "The family asks that memorial gifts be directed to the John Austin Cheley Foundation so that others might also have a chance to climb as high and see as far."
Dr. Sessions is survived by three daughters, Kimberly Hagen, Melissa Bothwell and Jean Wilund; one son, Rob Sessions; six grandchildren; two brothers; one sister and many nephews and nieces.
The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 9 pm Sunday at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta. Dr. Sessions' Silver Cloud and his 1929 Rolls Royce 20/25 Shooting Brake will be at the funeral home to view during visitation. A memorial service is planned for 3 p.m. Dec. 12 at Marietta First United Methodist Church at 56 Whitlock Ave.
"Dad's perspective of life was shaped by the view from the summit of the Rocky Mountains," Kimberly Hagen said. "The family asks that memorial gifts be directed to the John Austin Cheley Foundation so that others might also have a chance to climb as high and see as far."
Their article on Bob's life and accomplishments turned very well. Jeff
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