Robert L. Moore, M.D.

ROBERT L. MOORE, M.D., 83, died at his home on September 25, 2018.

Dr. Moore was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 15, 1935, to the Rev. George Nelson Moore and his wife, Minnie Moore. There was a Doctor’s Draft coming and Dr. Moore jointed the Coast Guard/United States Public Health Service and entered as a Captain.
He enjoyed his time on the USS Escanaba and was based on Fischer Island (long before it was the Fischer Island of today). He took a small ferry to and from the island each day to go to work at a Federal Building working as a Physician. Dr. Moore was the first one to attempt to bring a car to the island. It just fit on the ferry, and with windows down just in case, watching the swells to jump it on the ferry, made it across. Of course, then came the boat, motor and trailer where he spent many hours fishing and learning from the Sailfish Fishing Fleet located in Miami.

Dr. Moore moved to Vero Beach, Florida in 1962, was the 15th Doctor here and worked out of the office of Dr. Beau Guerin until his own office was built in 1964 at 2045 15th Avenue. He practiced in Vero Beach until 1974 when he and his family moved to Bluemont, Virginia, working in the hospital in Winchester, Loudon County, Virginia, as an Emergency Room physician. He worked 14 hour shifts and also supervised medical students from Georgetown University, seeing more than 80 patients a day and as the only physician.

Dr. Moore returned to Vero Beach in 1977 and resumed his practice. He worked long hours, making rounds in the morning or assisting in surgery, working in the office, going back to the hospital for admissions (no ER doctors or Hospitalists then) and also making house calls. Many patients looked forward to the house calls and others would see him walking up to the door of neighbors, amazed that a Doctor was making a house call. Some will remember calling the office, no appointments available, but he would always say, come on in, bring a book, and we’ll find someplace for you to lay down.

Dr. Moore completed his pre-medical education at Asbury, College in Wilmore, Kentucky, in three years. To get his college degree, he would have to stay for a year of Bible Study and French. Not one to let that stop him, he was accepted to Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University for medical school without the college degree. He received his MD at age 24 in 1959. He had his Medical Degree for 56 years and practiced in Vero Beach for 47 years until his retirement.

Always an adventurer, Dr. Moore followed the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race since its inception in 1973. In March 1997, he went to Nome, Alaska to see the mushers finish the race and the dye was cast. At age 63, he became the oldest rookie qualifier and the first Florida resident to qualify for the race for the year 1999.

Dr. Moore was an avid tennis player, winning the Riomar Tennis Championship in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s. He was #11 in the Florida rankings in his age group.

Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Irene Barcelona Moore, his son Jeff L. Moore, daughter, Linda (Ron) Blackman and grandchildren.

Dr. Moore was predeceased by two daughters, Kimberly Giard and Marilyn Moore and one son, Richard Moore.

Dr. Moore’s choice was to not have a memorial service. If you would like to make a memorial donation in his name, please contribute to Whole Family Health Center, 981 37th Place, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach, Florida. An online guestbook is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.co