Richard R. Byrne MD

Richard R. Byrne MD, of Mequon, WI. Died peacefully surrounded by his family on November 19, 2011 age 82 years. Born in Huntington, Indiana to Basil and Carmelita Byrne and raised in Kent, Ohio in a home directly across the street from Kent State University – which afforded him the opportunity to simply walk across a street for his first 16 years of education. He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Mary Ann (nee Mayers), his cherished children, Heather (Roger Chuppa) Byrne of Cedarburg, WI, Evan (Gayle) Byrne of Rockville, MD, Bryan Byrne of Williamstown, VT and Gwynn (John) Crow of Cedarburg, WI, his loving grandchildren, Caroline and Connor Chuppa, Elliott and Cory Byrne, and Catherine, Michael, and Thomas Crow, his sister, Carolyon (Robert) Beuhler of Ann Arbor, MI, and his brother, Donn Byrne of Little Rock, AR. Further survived by other relatives, friends, and his yellow lab Utah.

Dr. Byrne graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. from Kent State University where in his spare moments he honed his skills in photography and also worked as a tree surgeon for Davey Tree. After graduation he earned his M.D. cum laude from University of Michigan, where he was a member of the honorary medical society AOA. He completed his internship at St. Luke's Hospital in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He had a general practice in Shinnston, West Virginia for a year before returning to University of Michigan Hospital to complete a residency in radiology and radiation therapy. In 1960, he moved his family to Milwaukee where he practiced radiology at Columbia Hospital. During his 17 years at Columbia Hospital he served as director and chairman of the Department of Radiology from 1973 to 1977, and among his many accomplishments designed a new radiology department and was an expert in the use of medical imaging for the detection of breast cancer, including the use of thermography. Starting in 1977 he served as chief of radiology at Trinity Hospital until his retirement in 1988. In addition to his primary responsibilities at the hospitals he worked at in Milwaukee, Dr. Byrne served as an associate clinical professor for the Medical College of Wisconsin. He also served on the executive council, and as chairman for the clinical techniques and equipment committee of the American Thermographic Society. During his career Dr. Byrne shared his knowledge and expertise freely as a mentor to others, through published articles, and presentations, exhibits, and lectures delivered across the country at medical conferences. His professional memberships included the American Medical Association, American College of Radiology and the Radiologic Society of North America.

He enjoyed being outdoors, fishing, and spending time around the mountains of the desert southwest in Tucson, Arizona. He was a member of the Milwaukee Yacht Club and spent countless hours on Lake Michigan in the companionship of family and friends while enjoying the challenges of seamanship. He was well known for his steadfast attention to detail and his generosity and kindness. Among his many legacies was that he passed his appreciation for the outdoors, sailing, and nature along to his children.

A Memorial Service is planned for Saturday, November 26, 11:00 AM at the North Shore Congregational Church, 7330 N Santa Monica Blvd., Fox Point, WI. A reception will be held following the service at the Milwaukee Yacht Club Boathouse. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Ozaukee County Humane Society, 630 W Dekora St., Saukville, WI 53080 or The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation-In Memory of Richard Byrne MD, 330 E. Lakeside St., Madison, WI 53715, would be appreciated.

Schramka-Densow Funeral Home

423 N. Main St.

Thiensville, WI 53092

(262) 242-3120