Dr. Robert Meighan Reardon Obituary (1929 - 2012)

BLOOMINGTON " Dr. Robert Meighan Reardon, 83, of Bonita Springs, Fla., and Bloomington, died Nov. 25, 2012, after a brief illness.A memorial service to honor his life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 10, 2013 at Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington.He was preceded in death by his wife, Vivian Velehradsky Reardon; and his brother, John M. Reardon.He is survived by his son, Robert M. (Laura) Reardon Jr., Bloomington; two grandchildren, Lee Meighan Reardon and Robert West Reardon; nephew, Mark Reardon, Aurora, Colo.; and niece, Elizabeth Terwilliger, Atlanta, Ga.Robert was born July 1, 1929, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduated from Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn. He attended Virginia Military Institute before transferring to Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., where he graduated in 1949. He attended the State University of New York Downstate Medical School, graduating in 1954. He married Vivian Velehradsky on Aug. 25, 1956. After completing his ophthalmology residency at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, Dr. Reardon served as a physician in the U.S. Air Force at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala.His career in ophthalmology brought him to Gailey Eye Clinic, Bloomington, where he joined his partners in maintaining a commitment to a high quality of care and professionalism in an increasingly complex health care field.After serving as president of McLean County Medical Society, he became very involved in the state organization, eventually serving as speaker of the House of Delegates for the Illinois State Medical Society and as president for the 1991-1992 year. He served on the board of directors of the Illinois State Medical Insurance Exchange for over a decade until he retired in 2008. He was a member of the Illinois Delegation to the American Medical Association.He was involved in the original steering committee for the Community Health Care Clinic in Bloomington-Normal, responsible for initial fundraising that enabled the establishment of the clinic. He and Vivian occasionally traveled to Haiti to volunteer their time at the rural Hospital Albert Schweitzer. Their trips ended after the collapse of the government forced them to bribe their way through military roadblocks to flee the country.A longtime supporter of Illinois Wesleyan University, he served on the universitys Board of Trustees, including a number of years as vice chairman of the board. He and his wife were involved in the founding of the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, where they spent many years in close association playing with friends. He was a member of Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington Country Club, and the Mid-America Club in Chicago.After retirement, Bob and Vivian purchased a second home in Bonita Springs, where they were members of the Bonita Bay Country Club. They continued to enjoy tennis and the arts. They established many new friendships and spent time with many old friends who vacationed in southwest Florida. In their last years together, Bob remained steadfastly by Vivians side as she battled serious ailments. After her passing, Bob established himself as a Florida resident, but continued to visit his family in Bloomington during the summer. He recently shared traveling and socializing with Sherry Schultz, who was previously widowed. He continued to enjoy life in his final years, returning from safari in Africa only weeks before his death.Bob was an optimistic, pleasant compatriot with a penchant for fun and fellowship. He will be remembered fondly by all the members of the Reardon family, as he was the last of his generation to pass. The family requests that any memorials be forwarded to the attention of Gabrielle Gilliam at The Poly Prep Country Day School, Reardon Family Scholarship, 9216 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11228.