Robert E. Ploss, MD

January 5, 1922 - November 17, 2015

Bob Ploss was truly a Renaissance man. He had a rewarding career as an anesthesiologist. But he was also a photographer, pilot, journalist, gardener, traveler, woodworker. His interests ranged from typography to poetry to computer literacy to wine to ham radio. His over-arching passion was to spend his time and energy in improving his community, wherever he lived. He could leap tall buildings with a single bound.

Bob and his twin brother Bill were born in Buffalo, NY January 5, 1922. They grew up in Buffalo and graduated from the University of Buffalo. Bob became a B17 pilot in WWII and flew combat missions in Europe. He married Peggy Gillan, his college sweetheart, in 1944..

After the war, Bob studied medicine at the University of Buffalo, served his internship at Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco and his residency in anesthesiology at Los Angeles County Hospital. He practiced briefly in San Bernardino, CA and spent the rest of his medical career in the San Francisco Bay area.

Many happy years were spent in the Hiller Highlands community in Oakland, where Bob published The Shriek, a neighborhood newsletter. Then the 1991 Oakland fire burned the entire community. Peggy died in 1992.

On a trip to Costa Rica in 1994, Bob met Jean Ferry. They married a year later, and Bob moved to Vancouver, WA. In 2008 the couple moved to Timber Ridge in Issaquah.

Survivors include his wife, his brother, Dr. William R. Ploss of Gainesville, FL, son Robert J. Ploss of Vancouver, BC, daughter Dr. Janet E. Ploss of Seattle, three grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. His son James O. Ploss died in 2006.