Robert was born May 1, 1922, to Roy M. and Lida E. Hazen in Neodesha, Kansas. The family moved to Kansas City, Kansas, where he attended public schools, graduating from Wyandotte High School in 1940. He then attended the Kansas City, Kansas Junior College, graduating in 1942. Robert received a Residence Hall Scholarship at the University of Kansas. He earned a B.A. degree in 1944 and an M.D. degree in 1947 at Kansas University. He interned at the Old St. Joseph Hospital. Following this he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he took the Basic Science Course in Otolaryngology at Washington University/Barnes Hospital. He was then chosen as a Resident Physician in Otolaryngology at Barnes Hospital and St. Louis City Hospital.
On December 3, 1950 Dr. Hazen married Elaine Funkhouser, a student nurse at Washington University/Barnes Hospital. They were married in Decatur, Illinois. They came to Kansas City, to practice medicine in July, 1951.
In 1953, Dr. Hazen was called to active duty, as a Captain in the Army Medical Department. He was stationed at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, for one year. He was then transferred to Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, where he was Chief of Otolaryngology and in charge of the Otolaryngology Residency Training Program. He returned to Kansas City in 1955 where he practiced medicine until he retired on May 1, 1987.
Dr. Hazen was certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and was a Fellow of The American College of Surgeons and of The American Academy of Otolaryngology. Robert was a member of The Metropolitan Medical Society of Greater Kansas City, The Missouri State Medical Society, The American Medical Association, and The Southern Medical Association. He was also a member of and past president of The Kansas City Society of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology. In January, 2002, this society gave him the Hal Foster Award for “Demonstrating exemplary dedication and service to the Society and the local medical community.” He was a founding member and past president of the Missouri State Otolaryngology Society. He was a member of the Kansas University Alumni Association and a Life Member of the Kansas University Alumni Association (Jayhawk Society).
Dr. Hazen was a member of the Old Mission Masonic Lodge, The Scottish Rite and the Ararat Shrine. He was a past member of the Downtown Optimist Club and Blue Hills Country Club.
Dr. Hazen was on the active medical staff of St. Joseph Hospital, Baptist Medical Center and Research Medical Center.
He leaves his loving wife of 64 years, Elaine, of the home; his daughter Terri Blount and his pride and joy, granddaughter, Emily Blount, both of Leawood, Kansas; and his Boston Terrier, Ace. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.
He requested no service. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 11, Scottish Rite ceremony at 5:00 p.m., at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road. Private entombment in Mt. Moriah Cemetery.
The family requests no flowers and suggests contributions in his name, to your favorite charity. Contributions may also be made to The Metropolitan Medical Society of Greater Kansas City Foundation, 315 Nichols Road, Suite 250, Kansas City, Missouri 64112, or to Great Plains SPCA, 5428 Antioch Drive, Merriam, Kansas 66202 or Kansas City Hospice, 1500 Meadow Lake Parkway, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri 64114.
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