Shrewsbury – Exceptional son, brother, cousin, husband, father, uncle, father-in-law, Godfather, grandfather, friend, mentor, and esteemed Urologist, passed away peacefully with his children by his side at UMass Memorial Medical Center on November 5, 2023. He was 75.
Bob was the eldest of the eleven children of Dr. Robert D. Blute Sr. and Ann-Marie Blute of Shrewsbury. He was born in Bremerhaven, Germany on August 26, 1948 while his father was stationed at the US Army Hospital during the post World War II period. In 1953, the Blute family settled in Shrewsbury. Bob was educated in the Shrewsbury Public School System and at St. John’s High School. His four years studying with the Xaverian Brothers at St. John’s were the most transformative of his educational and athletic endeavors. He was, in his own words, “A Pioneer for Life.” He then followed in his father’s footsteps and matriculated at Boston College where he graduated in the Class of 1970.
In 1964, Bob met a beautiful, brown-eyed girl named Elizabeth Kennedy at a Forest Grove dance. Immediately besotted by her innate beauty and sparkling personality, Bob knew he had met the love of his life. After a several year courtship, they were married at Immaculate Conception Church in Worcester on June 26, 1971. They then moved to Missouri, as Bob began his medical career at St. Louis Medical School. His training took the two of them to St. Louis, MO, Boston, MA, Newton, MA and Portland, ME. In 1974, Bob graduated from Tufts Medical School. Subsequently, he completed surgical residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and training in the Harvard Program of Urology at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. Bob and Liz soon resided in nearby Wellesley where Liz began and excelled at rearing their three children Bobby, Matt, and Courtney. They returned home to Worcester in 1981 where Bob joined his father in practice at Associates in Urology. He practiced at St. Vincent’s Hospital and UMass Memorial Medical Center, both in Worcester. He ultimately served as Assistant Professor of Urology in the Department of Urology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Over the next 17 years, Bob and Liz enjoyed a wonderful life together raising their children and providing them with an idyllic childhood home on Aylesbury Road in Worcester. Although his career demanded long hours, Bob’s ambition, passion, and enthusiasm for the field of Urology afforded him the recognition as a nationally renowned surgeon in the specialty he so loved.
His children, Bobby, Matt, and Courtney have always admired and respected his discipline and exemplary work ethic. They strive each day in their respective lives to emulate his extraordinary example.
Liz was the constant source of joy and love in Bob’s life. As her health began to decline in recent years, he told her, “You took the first half, I’ll take the second half.” As Bob cared for Liz at their home in Shrewsbury, they grew even closer – enjoying quiet moments that their previously busy lives had not always allowed. Liz passed away peacefully at home in 2022 with her beloved Bob, as always, by her side. Bob had given Liz the ultimate gift of love in her final years, blessing her with the same compassionate and empathetic bedside manner with which he had honored his patients throughout his 40-year career as a physician.
Dr. Blute was an innovative surgeon, educator, role model, and mentor. He quickly adopted many minimally invasive techniques into his surgical practice. He was a passionate surgeon and loved mentoring medical students and young surgical residents. A highlight of his career was serving as Section Chief of Urology at UMass Medical School and sustaining urologic training in Worcester. In this capacity, he recruited, trained, and mentored many surgeons who proudly recognize him for his example in attracting them to the specialty of urology.
Dr. Blute was active in many medical and specialty organizations. After obtaining board certification with the American Board of Urology, he became a career-long contributor as well as obtaining Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons.
For over 40 years, he was an active member of the Worcester Medical Society, New England Section of the American Urological Association, serving as President in 1998. He presented papers nationally at the annual American Urology Association and served on many health policy and education committees.
Bob leaves his three children, Robert D. Blute, III and his wife, Betty M. Blute, of Worcester, Matthew W. Blute and his wife, Erin K. Blute, of Fairfield, CT, and Courtney K. Blute Perna and her husband, Thomas J. Perna, Jr., of Washington, D.C. He also leaves behind seven adoring grandchildren: Bobby and Jack, of Worcester, Kelly and Ryan, of Fairfield, CT, and Tommy, Teddy, and William Perna, of Washington, D.C. Bob also leaves behind ten loving brothers and sisters: Margaret A. Marshall, of Chapel Hill, NC, Dr. Michael Blute, Sr. (Debra) of Boston, John Blute (Suzanne) of Worthington, OH, Carol Ryan (John) of Holden, Mary Blute, of Shrewsbury, Peter Blute (Roberta) of Shrewsbury, Joseph Blute (Jayne) of Natick, Kathleen Madaus, of Shrewsbury, Ann-Marie Blute, of Boylston, Paula Ebben (William) of Dedham, and many aunts, uncles, in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
There will be calling hours from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, November 10, at Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester. A Mass of Christian Burial is planned at Immaculate Conception Church, 353 Grove St., Worcester on Saturday, November 11, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bob can be made to these organizations most dear to his heart: St. John’s High School of Shrewsbury (www.stjohnshigh.org/support/make-a-gift) or Detectogether.org (www.detectogether.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/).
