ROBERT BERT FAUS

One of Dr. Faus' favorite stories was that while he was a psychiatric intern at Cook County Hospital he saw on the bulletin board a notice saying "Interns and residents wanted in Honolulu." He borrowed the money to send a wire; and in a few days received word that he had been accepted at Queen's Hospital and $250 in passage money from Dr. Paul Withington.

With another loan he sent off a wire to a former classmate, Marie Keim, in Denver: "Will you marry me and go to Honolulu?" Again he was accepted and they were married in Evergreen, Colorado and arrived in Hawaii in July 1921. "Dr. Marie" as she was called, became the first female intern at the Queen's Hospital and "Dr. Bob" joined the housestaff.

The Doctors Faus had three children: Katherine (Mrs. Burton Andrus), Robert, Jr., and an adopted daughter, Lady Marie (Mrs. William Sode).

After completing his residency at Queen's, Dr. Bob went into private practice in 1923. One of his first projects was a survey of the Hawaii Insane Asylum at the request of Governor Farrington. Conditions there were dreadful at that time; and thanks to this report, the Legislature of 1925 appropriated $75,000 for the purchase of land in Kaneohe for a new mental hospital.

From 1925-30 Dr. Faus served as police surgeon, and was one of the pioneers in transfusing blood - starting the ambulatory Blood Bank in 1930. For the following ten years he was City and County Physician, and helped establish the City and County Emergency Unit at Queen's. (This building is now a storage unit at the Miller Street entrance of the Hospital).

Dr. Faus was a member of the Hawaii National Guard from 1922-40, and volunteered for active duty during World War II, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served as Commanding Officer of the 156th General Hospital on Ie Shima, and as Executive Officer of the 165th Station Hospital on Kauai. In 1948 he retired as a Brigadier General.

Among the honors awarded to Dr. Faus was the Bronze Star for outstanding work in establishing civilian aid stations and ambulance service during the December 7, 1941 attack. (A posthumous award was also given him by President Reagan). Some years later Dr. Bob wrote a vivid story of the Pearl Harbor attack for the bulletin of the U.S. Army Medical Department, November 1949, in which he pointed out that the civilian community had made preparations for defense long before the actual attack. Local medical organizations, Honolulu doctors and nurses had set up a disaster plan with eighteen first aid stations in schools throughout the city; while 5,000 persons were trained in first aid. When the "blitz" came, Dr. Faus was on his way to give a lecture he never delivered - on the importance of being prepared for emergencies. For the next three days he supervised the treatment of wounded civilians from the armory near Iolani Palace.

After the war Dr. Bob returned to private practice and served as President of the Honolulu County Medical Society in 1930, and of the Territorial Medical Association in 1947. He was on the staff of many local hospitals and among the honors he received were" "American of the Week", 1952; Hawaii's Father of the Year in Medical and Dental Service, 1961. He was past potentate of the Aloha Masonic Temple; a member of the American Medical Association, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Rho Sigma, Scottish Rite 32nd Degree, York Rite, Knight Templar, Honolulu Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts of America, University Club, Representatives Club, Mental Hygiene Society, American Legion and Waialae Golf Club.

Both Drs. Faus were extremely community minded. They took active part in many local organizations and their unusual home on Portlock Road was the gathering place for many events, both medical and social. The two-story Japanese style house had been built in Japan, taken apart and loaded onto a freighter. The Japanese crew then reassembled it in Honolulu. In spite of their busy schedules the Fauses were noted for their friendly hospitality and many a weary and lonely intern from Queen's was welcomed at their Sunday morning pancake breakfasts.

Dr. Marie died in 1975 and Dr. Bob married Dee Norfleet. They lived on Aukai Avenue and Dr. Bob took up woodcarving during his retirement years. His main project was the "History of Transportation" which included carving horses, stage coaches, and even a circus wagon, in addition to more modern vehicles. Dr. Bob and Dee traveled a lot - going to Europe, the Orient, etc. but usually ending up in Hong Kong, their favorite spot.

Dr. Bob died on December 13, 1983 at the age of 86.

Medicine in Hawaii: Oral History Series

In Memoriam Index