Bill Text: NY J02825 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourning the death of Dr. Evan Calkins, prominent geriatrician, loving husband, father and grandfather, and devoted member of his community

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-02-25 - ADOPTED [J02825 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J02825-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 2825

BY: Senator JACOBS

        MOURNING  the death of Dr. Evan Calkins, prominent
        geriatrician,    loving    husband,    father    and
        grandfather, and devoted member of his community

  WHEREAS, There are certain outstanding members of our community who,
through  their selfless commitment and dedication, have served to better
the quality of life in our community and have had a measurable  positive
impact  on  the  lives  of  its residents; Dr. Evan Calkins was one such
individual; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  with  great  sorrow  and  deep  regret  that  this
Legislative  Body  records  the  passing of Dr. Evan Calkins, noting the
significance of his purposeful life and accomplishments; and

  WHEREAS, Dr. Evan Calkins of Hamburg,  New  York,  died  on  Friday,
January  24,  2020,  at  the age of 99, just six months shy of his 100th
Birthday; and

  WHEREAS, Evan Calkins  received  his  medical  degree  from  Harvard
Medical  School  in 1945; throughout his illustrious career, which would
traverse nearly  seven  decades,  he  specialized  in  rheumatology  and
gerontology; and

  WHEREAS,  As  the  first  Chairman  of Medicine at the University at
Buffalo  School  of  Medicine  and  Biomedical   Sciences,   after   its
incorporation  into the SUNY system, Dr. Evan Calkins was faced with the
challenge of combining the departments of  medicine  at  three  separate
hospitals,  Buffalo  General, E.J. Meyer Memorial and Buffalo VA, into a
single University-wide department; and

  WHEREAS, Following the successful merge of the three hospitals,  Dr.
Evan  Calkins  became the first head of the University at Buffalo School
of  Medicine  and  Biomedical  Sciences'  division  of  Geriatrics   and
Gerontology; and

  WHEREAS,  By  the  time  he retired 12 years later, the division had
trained 10 percent  of  all  fellowship  trained  geriatricians  in  the
country, an accomplishment of which he was very proud; and

  WHEREAS,  In  addition  to  his  own  practice in Hamburg, Dr. Evans
Calkins served as the senior  physician  and  coordinator  of  geriatric
programs  at HealthCarePlan and as an Emeritus Professor of Medicine and
Family Medicine at the University at  Buffalo  School  of  Medicine  and
Biomedical Sciences; and

  WHEREAS,  Within  the medical profession, Dr. Evan Calkins published
many articles, edited several books, and  established  numerous  medical
and  community  organizations, including the Network in Aging of Western
New York; and

  WHEREAS, As a prominent leader in his profession, Dr.  Evan  Calkins
proved  himself  to  be  a great asset to medicine and to the health and
well-being of the aging population within his community; and


  WHEREAS,  Dr.  Evan  Calkins  stopped seeing patients in 2014 at the
remarkable age of 93; he then wrote and edited a seven-volume history of
the extended Calkins family; and

  WHEREAS, Dr. Evan Calkins and his wife, the former  Virginia  Brady,
raised  nine  successful and talented children on their farm in Hamburg,
where each child was taught responsibility and  hard  work  by  choosing
their own animal to care for such as sheep, pigs, geese, and even a cow;
it was imperative to the Calkins to instill in all of their children and
grandchildren the importance of family, work and community; and

  WHEREAS,  His greatest joy in life was doting on his wife and always
looking out for her, a sweet testimony to 73  years  of  marital  bliss,
commitment and true love; and

  WHEREAS,  In  addition  to his wife, Dr. Evan Calkins is survived by
his nine children, Sarah (Thomas), Stephen (Joan),  Lucy  (John),  Joan,
Ben,  Hugh  (Beth),  Ellen  (Joseph),  Geoffrey,  and Tim (Carol); and a
sister,   Patricia;   as   well   as    31    grandchildren    and    13
great-grandchildren; and

  WHEREAS,  Dr.  Evan  Calkins, who displayed many exceptional talents
and unique  qualities,  lived  an  immensely  beautiful  life  built  on
compassion, kindness, and respect for others; and

  WHEREAS,  Through  his  profound  words of wisdom, Dr. Evan Calkins'
legacy of infinite selflessness and benevolence, will shine  on  through
his  family's  vivid  and  happy memories; his insight and strength will
forever serve as a beacon of love and hope for all who  were  privileged
to have known and loved such an amazing person; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death  of  Dr.  Evan  Calkins,  and  to  express  its  deepest
condolences to his family; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Dr. Evan Calkins.