Dr. Richard E. Polly 1942-2017
Dr. Richard E. Polly died Sunday, March 26, 2017.
Richard was born May 22, 1942, in Sioux City, Iowa. He graduated from Missouri Valley High School, Missouri Valley, Iowa. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. He received a full academic scholarship to the University of Iowa College of Medicine and graduated in 1968. He completed his internship at Parkland Hospital, Dallas, Texas.
His residency in orthopedic surgery was also at Parkland Hospital and related hospitals including Baylor University, Scottish Rite Crippled Children’s Hospital and the VA Hospital along with a traveling fellowship to the eight major orthopedic centers of the British Isles including the cities of London, Oxford, Wigan, Bristol, Oswestry, Mansfield, and Sheffield, all in England, with a final stop in Edinburgh, Scotland.
He served in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant Commander at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, Calif. As part of the teaching staff, Richard was in charge of officer’s and women’s services. He was the sole orthopedic surgeon called up as part of a surgical team from the West Coast sent to help evacuate Saigon during the Vietnam War. While overseas Richard was on land in Guam and the Philippines and at sea on the USS Hancock and a freighter.
He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and was a member of the American Legion Post 58 in Topeka.
Richard was a member of the Shawnee County Medical Society, the Kansas Medical Society, the American Medical Society, the Mid-America Orthopaedic Association, the Mid-Central Orthopaedic Society and fellow of the American Hand Society, the American Foot and Ankle Society and American College of Surgeons.
He began practice in Topeka in 1975 and retired after 39 years in 2014 from Kansas Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, now a part of Stormont Vail HealthCare. He was a past president of the former Memorial Hospital of Topeka. He had a particular interest in hand and foot surgery along with general orthopedics.
Richard was licensed in Kansas, Iowa, Texas, and California. In northeast Kansas he had hospital staff appointments in Wamego, Sabetha, Holton, Seneca and Hiawatha.
He was a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the Topeka Country Club and a past active of the Topeka 20-30 Club.
Richard married his college sweetheart Linda Nolan in 1967. Their 50th wedding anniversary would have been June 17 of this year. She survives.
Other survivors include his son Matthew (Dr. Marla Geha); daughter Shannon Polly (Garry Reeder); and three grandchildren, Quinn Madaris Polly-Reeder, Harper Nolan Polly-Reeder, and Malcolm Connor Polly. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday at Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, 3601 S.W. 17th St., Topeka. Burial with military honors followed in Mount Calvary Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the University of Iowa Foundation, to the Dr. Richard E. Polly Memorial Scholarship or to Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church.
Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent online to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
