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Robert L. Thomas ’30

Robert Thomas ’30, June 26, 1996, in Fremont, California. He studied at Reed for one year and then transferred to Stanford University, where he earned a BA in 1930. He entered Harvard School of Medicine and received an MD in 1933, and he returned to Portland to practice medicine. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy and continued in active service with the U.S. Naval Reserve for 31 years, retiring with the rank of captain. He practiced medicine in Oakland, California, for 20 years, specializing in surgery, and then worked at various locations until joining the staff of Napa State Hospital as a surgeon. He became interested in mental illness, and from 1969 to 1972 completed the official three-year residency in psychiatry, the oldest person to complete such a residency. He officially retired from Napa State Hospital in 1980, but returned as a staff psychiatrist for several years, retiring again in 1988. He was interested in genealogy and belonged to many genealogical organizations. He was governor general of the Society of Mayflower Descendants from 1975 to 1978. Survivors include his wife, three daughters, two sons, two stepchildren, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Appeared in Reed magazine: November 1996