Dr. Robert Feinstein

Bob with his Mooney Aircraft

Dr. Robert Feinstein, affectionately known as Dr. Bob, was born in 1940 in Brooklyn, New York. In 1964, while traveling in Paris, he met Ellen Benton, who became his wife of 57 years.

He was a lifelong scholar, earning two masters in engineering, and a PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan. While in Ann Arbor, his two daughters, Lisa and Ami were born. In 1972 he moved with his family to Galveston, Texas, where he worked doing biomedical engineering research at the University of Texas Medical Branch. At age 38, he began medical school and went on to earn his medical degree from Texas A&M University. He completed his residency in anesthesia at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri where he practiced as an anesthesiologist and was a member of the liver transplant team. He continued to enjoy practicing medicine until he retired from his position at St. Luke’s Hospital at age 74.

Dr. Bob fell in love with the Pacific Northwest after he and his wife visited friends there over many years. He eventually bought a condo in Kirkland, Washington, where he and Ellen spent their summers until ultimately retiring there.

Throughout his life, Dr. Bob enjoyed various hobbies. He attained his pilot’s license and loved flying his Mooney airplane and attending air shows. He was an avid and skilled photographer who used his collection of Leica cameras and lenses to document his surroundings. He was also an adventurous and enthusiastic world traveler. He volunteered with Interplast and Medical Mission for Children in Brazil, Thailand, Guatemala, Peru, Rwanda, and Bhutan. He and his wife also traveled extensively. They visited most of the national parks in the United States and explored places all over the world, including trips to Cuba, Peru, Scandinavia, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and cruises throughout the Caribbean. He was also a passionate road cyclist for many years. He had custom bikes in both St. Louis and Seattle, and he enjoyed riding frequently in both cities.

Dr. Bob loved and will always be loved by his family and many friends.

He had an especially soft spot for his beloved dogs, Sonny, Carson and Baylee. Dr. Feinstein is survived by his wife, Ellen Benton Feinstein, his two daughters Lisa and Ami, his brother Neil, and his fur baby, Baylee.

Donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research: https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate