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RICHARD LEWIS Dr. Richard Lewis Farquhar, who was the first Oral Surgeon to set up a practice in Northern New Mexico has died at St. Vincent's hospital on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 after a brief bout with cancer. He was 76. Dr. Farquhar moved his family to Santa Fe in 1964 and established himself as a valuable asset to the community which until then had sent facial trauma patients to Albuquerque. His varied practice insured that he was widely known and over the years he helped scores of Northern New Mexicans. His kids remember growing up and always having someone say your Dad fixed my aunt or brother. His patients appreciated his kind and generous nature and sense of humor. He was born January 14, 1931 in Monessen, PA and graduated from Duke University with a degree in English literature. He was a member of the SAE fraternity. After graduating he served as a navigation line officer on the USS Saipan, a light aircraft carrier, during the Korean conflict for three years. Following that, on a Navy scholarship, he returned to Duke and took his science courses allowing him to go to the University of Pittsburgh Dental School where he graduated cum laude. Following that he returned to Duke for his Internship and Residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Upon finishing he lived his dream of moving out West and established his practice in Santa Fe. He prided himself on his trauma work and for many years he was on call constantly often working emergency surgery at all hours and weekends. He served on the St. Vincents Hospital Staff Executive committee in 1972 and the Credentials committee from 1968 to 1979. Serving two terms, from 1981 until 1983 he served as Chief of the Medical Dental Hospital Staff, the only dentist to ever hold the position. He also served on the St. Vincents Hospital Board of Trustees from 1981 through 1989. He was a member of the NM Dental Association and was a board certified Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Additionally he was a member of the Southwest Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and served as president for a time. Also he was a member and president of the Rocky Mountain Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He retired after 37 years of private practice in 2001. He loved nothing more than fly fishing the New Mexico Wilderness and hiking or camping. Also he was an avid tennis player and skier. He enjoyed photography, sailing and gardening and later played golf. He was a voracious reader and had studied WWII history extensively. He was a Mason and a member of the Santa Fe Rotary Club and also a group, Quien Sabe, that met periodically for dinner and discussion of life and politics. He led a full and satisfying life and leaves behind many treasured friends. He is survived by his wife, Jennie; and son, Brae; and his first wife, Marilyn and their four children, Scott, Anne, Matt, and Tom; and two grandsons, from daughter Anne, named Scotty and Alex. A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at St. John's Methodist Church at noon. The family asks that in lieu of flowers or gifts, donations may be made to: the Memorial Fund established in Richard's name by the Rotary Club of Santa Fe Foundation at: PO Box 2465, Santa Fe, NM 87504; The Boy Scouts of America at: 1 Calle Medico, Santa Fe, NM 87505; the Challenge NM Riding Program at: 2504 Camino Entrada, Santa Fe, NM 87507; or the Santa Fe Animal Shelter at: 100 Caja Del Rio, Santa Fe, NM 87507. He will be missed. Obituary written by Scott Farquhar Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 1399 Luisa Street, Santa Fe, NM, 87505. (505) 984-8600.
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