Richard Stiles, head urologist at Winchester Hospital; at 88
Homeward bound on a train after serving as a Navy doctor in the Philippines during World War II, Richard Stiles met some fellow physicians who mentioned a possible place for him to carry out the next step of his medical career - his residency.
"They indicated that they had an opening at the [E.J. Meyer] Memorial Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y.," said his son Joseph, of Houston. "He thought nothing would ever come of it."
But the opening was there. He applied, and launched his career in urology.
The longtime Winchester Hospital urologist died May 14 from complications that stemmed from anemia at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Atlantis, Fla. He was 88.
His success as a surgeon and doctor came from years of long hours in the classroom - and a work ethic rooted in the Depression era.
"He was always a very hard worker - he grew up in the Depression and had to work hard - a lot of night jobs," his son said. "He was kind of a self-made man."
Dr. Stiles grew up in Boston, and had been interested in becoming a Navy pilot. However, he steered himself toward medicine early on. "He realized being a doctor was more important," his son said.
He graduated from Boston Latin School in 1938 and earned his bachelor's degree in 1942 from Boston College. He received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1945. While in medical school, he was part of the naval reserve; and the medical degree was expedited so he could serve in the Navy for the final months of the war. He interned at the US Naval Hospital in Memphis before shipping out to the Philippines.
Back on US soil, Dr. Stiles finished his medical training with his residency in Buffalo, and started to work at the Winchester Hospital in 1951. He became chief of urology there and was elected president of the medical staff in 1979.
He performed surgeries and saw patients in his office - treating people with cancer of the urinary tract and more routine urinary problems, such as infections.
"He cared a lot about his patients," his son said. "He tried to do everything possible to help them and to cure them. He was really compassionate in that sense."
He also taught others to do the same as an assistant clinical professor at Tufts Medical School.
"In one word, he was brilliant," said Robert Spellman, former chief of urology at St. Elizabeth's Hospital. "He was really something. He turned out to be a super urologist and a super guy. He was an excellent teacher."
After his career took off, so, too, did the single-engine planes he flew around New England. Dr. Stiles earned his pilot's license while in college, and did the requisite number of hours to keep it active, even after retirement.
He also enjoyed playing the role of announcer when watching Red Sox games in his living room. "He would say things and then the announcer would say the same thing," his son said.
His ancestral roots could be traced to England circa 1600, and fellow members of the Stiles family formed an organization, the Stiles Family of America. As president for a time, Dr. Stiles helped raise money for scholarships.
In addition to his son Joseph, Dr. Stiles leaves his wife of 63 years, Joan (Griffin); another son, Richard of Seattle; two daughters, Janet of Stow and Karen of Atlanta; a grandson and a granddaughter.
Services have been held.
