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Note: In Memory of Charles Devine, Jr., M.D Dr. Charles Devine died on February 12, 1999, of advanced prostate cancer. Charlie, as he was known to us, was born in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1923. He attended college at Washington and Lee University and received his doctorate in medicine from George Washington University School of Medicine. He completed an internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a fellowship in urology at the Cleveland Clinic. It was in Cleveland that he met Rae Ellis. They were married on September 30, 1950. Rae and Charlie were a perfect complement to one another and the two were always a delight. Everyone was comfortable in their company. They had five children � three sons and two daughters � and a host of grandchildren. Charlie came to Norfolk in 1952 to join his father and was soon followed by his brother, Dr. Patrick Devine. In Norfolk they achieved remarkable goals for a trio of private practice urologists. They established a residency; they were the driving force behind the establishment of a medical school, Eastern Virginia Medical School; and they pioneered the field of reconstructive urology. Charlie was recognized for his accomplishments - his membership in the Association of Genitourinary Surgeons, his receipt of the Distinguished Contribution Award from the American Urologic Association, and in 1997, his receipt of the highest honor of the American Urologic Association, the Ramon Guiteras Award. A month before his death, an endowed chair, The Devine Chair in Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery, was established at Eastern Virginia Medical School. I will conclude with two events that occurred during his funeral service. The first included the words of the eulogist who reminded us that the full exercise of Charlie's creativity and talents had introduced surgical concepts that would provide hope for many patients past and future. The second event, at the end of the service, brought Charlie's youngest daughter, Rachel, to the lectern. She reminded the congregation of her father's love of family, and medicine. She also recalled her father's passion for sailing by reciting verses from Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar" to commemorate his journey. Crossing the Bar Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea, Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark; For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crossed the bar. With Charles Devine's death, Norfolk, Virginia, lost a first citizen, his family a devoted father and husband, urology a pioneer and urologists everywhere a loyal comrade. http://www.evms.edu/vpc/newsletter/1999-summer.html#Memory
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