Tributes

Oliver E. Owen was born in Roswell, New Mexico on Christmas Eve 1934 and died on September 6, 2010. He walked many different paths in life. In his youth, Olly engaged in theater, sports, and school politics. He played football but was most proud of his boxing career, ultimately participating in the national Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions in Chicago. Olly spent his early collegiate summers working on oil rigs throughout the southwest. There he met Paula Merrell; they were married in 1956. Olly dedicated his future to medicine and science. He attended the University of Colorado Medical School, trained in Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins, and launched his research career at the Harvard affiliate Joslin Research Laboratories. Thereafter, for 21 years he served as director of the NIH-sponsored Clinical Research Center at Temple University Hospital and ultimately moved on to serve as Chairman of Medicine at Southern Illinois University. Throughout his career, he published over a hundred original articles (4 of which were citation classics), numerous book chapters, and lectured around the world. He also spent many evenings working in a clinic in a downtrodden area of Philadelphia. In addition, on several occasions he helped treat patients in Ocean City, MD and Falmouth, MA during times of summer influx. In 1996, he returned from Illinois to his home in Gladwyne, compiled and published data from previous research projects, and entered into private practice at Lankenau. What little time remained outside of work, Olly dedicated to his family, friends, and home. He restored an old stone home and enjoyed yard and tree work (being highly proficient with a power saw). Olly was an avid squash player who enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow squash players at both the Philadelphia Country Club and The Merion Cricket Club. Similarly, he derived great pleasure from playing squash, skiing and sailing with his wife, children, grandchildren and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother. He is survived by his wife Paula; three children – Michele Owen Black (Dennis) of California, Rodney Owen (Betsy) of Arizona, and Lydia Owen Babich (Glenn) of Rhode Island; six grandchildren – Samantha & Derek Black, Jordan & Carter Owen, and Chris & Kevin Babich; and a brother John Owen (Ruth) of New Mexico. A memorial service will be held on September 11th at 10:30 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 721 Paxon Hollow Road, Broomall, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Laurel House, a domestic violence shelter, P.O. Box 764, Norristown, PA 19404

Tributes

Oliver E. Owen M.D.

December 24, 1934 - September 6, 2010