Dr. Evoy delivered 6,000 babies
Robert Evoy Sr., a member of a prominent Seattle Catholic family and among Valley Medical Center's first OB-Gyns and chiefs of staff, delivered in excess of 6,000 babies.
Moreover, the Renton physician with the offbeat humor tended to keep it in the family, delivering children and grandchildren of women he had also delivered. He had delivered a niece's husband.
"He liked to joke, `You can tell the ones I delivered because they all have something wrong with them,' " said his son Robert Evoy Jr. of Simi Valley, Calif.
"Before he retired in 1980, he still delivered babies but a lot fewer. He said, `Let my colleagues get up at 2 in the morning.' "
By then he was concentrating on obstetrical surgery. He was fast and good, getting referrals from throughout the area, his son said.
Dr. Evoy died March 18 of heart failure. He was 78.
Born to Irish immigrants in Los Angeles, he moved with his family to Seattle. He and four older brothers studied and played sports at St. Joseph's grade school and Seattle Preparatory School.
There was a certain sibling rivalry. His brother Gerard Evoy, who died in 1990, was in the Jesuit Order for 60 years and was vice president of Seattle University.
His brother John Evoy of Spokane is professor emeritus and former chairman of the psychology department at Gonzaga University.
His brother Matthew Evoy, who died in 1984, was a vascular surgeon. And his brother Larry Evoy of Tacoma is a retired CEO of Pierce County Medical.
Dr. Evoy took premed studies at Seattle U., then attended St. Louis University Medical School. He did his residency at San Diego Naval Hospital and served as medical officer at Tongue Point Naval Station in Astoria, Ore.
He established an OB-Gyn practice in 1952 at Renton Hospital, now part of Valley Medical Center. He worked there until back problems forced him to retire.
At this point he played more golf - a college hobby - at Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent. He also owned condo units near golf courses in Southern California and Arizona.
"He was very proficient, with a 1 or 2 handicap and a 68 to 72 score," said Larry Evoy. "He was often picked as the amateur to represent Meridian Valley in pro-am tournaments."
Dr. Evoy kept up his medical work unofficially: He gave clinics on medical issues and consulted on Medicare at his senior communities in the Southland.
"He was very dedicated to his profession," Larry Evoy said. "He had a lot of stories about it."
Besides his brothers and son Robert, survivors include his children Molly Ann Evoy of Pullman and Timothy Evoy, Shannon Evoy-Smith and John Evoy, all of Kent; and 10 grandchildren.
His 23-year marriage to Connie Evoy of Renton ended in 1972.
Funeral Mass has been held.
Donations may go to the Autism Society of America Foundation, 7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Carole Beers' e-mail address is cbeers@seattletimes.com