Rollo DuBois Lange

Dr. Rollo DuBois ""Rolly"" Lange passed away peacefully on Monday, July 20, 2009, surrounded by family. He was born on Jan. 23, 1921, in a farmhouse near Baraboo, and graduated from Baraboo High School in 1938. That year, unable to play foot ball due to injuries, he became team manager and watched as Baraboo went undefeated and was never scored upon. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and joined the U.S. Naval Reserves after the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Rolly became a physician after graduating from St. Louis University Medical School in 1942, and then became a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, serving as a ship's surgeon in the Pacific Theater, and later as chief medical officer for a Naval Military District in Alaska. In 1946. he was ordered to Bikini Atoll prior to a nuclear test blast to inspect the medical facilities on a number of warships to make certain that they were in optimal wartime condition before they were sunk. Rolly would later say what a shame it was that so many medical facilities and precision instruments ended up at the bottom of the sea. In 1948 he became a medical examiner for TWA Airlines, where he met his future wife Margaret ""Margie"" Jones, a stewardess for TWA. They were married in Columbus, Ohio in 1953. In 1956 they moved to Madison where Rolly maintained a successful medical practice as an ear, nose and throat specialist, serv ing on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin Hospital, and as a staff member of St. Mary's and Madison General (now Meriter) hospitals. Rolly improved the lives of his many patients with his innovation, good nature and sincere caring. After retiring from practice, he continued to volunteer his services at several outreach organizations, including the Veteran's Administration. Among his many interests in life, Rolly always had a deep respect for and appreciation of nature. He created wonderful gardens, and loved to hike and fish in the Wisconsin woods and waters of his youth. If any of these activities weren't possible, he read endlessly about the natural world, and has passed on this appreciation for our world to his children and grandchildren. He was a longtime member of Blackhawk Country Club and greatly enjoyed his weekly bridge games with friends. Rolly was also a longtime supporter of Badgers athletics and has held season football tickets since 1956. His grandchildren recall his unending wit: his great-grandfather, Sylvester DuBois was a highly decorated Civil War veteran who had met Abraham Lincoln, and would shake Rolly's hand and exclaim, ""You're shaking the hand that shook the hand of Abraham Lincoln!"" Rolly did not hesitate to use this same line with his grandchildren, to their delight. His grandchildren also nick-named him ""Bearhug Grandpa"" due to his crushing hugs. He enjoyed many years of traveling, having an insatiable interest in life and love of adventure. In 2003, Rolly, Margaret and family celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Margaret; his children, James, Douglas, Barbara and Michael; and grandchildren, Brandt, Heidi, Evan and Sean. He is also survived by brothers, Lloyd and Walter; and his sister, Diane Mandt. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph Stephenson Lange and Nellie DuBois Lange; and a brother, Durwood R. Lange. As was his wish, services were private. Memorials may be made to the Nature Conservancy, 633 W. Main St., Madison, WI 53703, or via the web at nature.org. Rolly would have liked for everyone to remember the joy and wonder that is here for us in this world.