Robert A. Page

Although Olive W. Garvey and Dr. Hugh D. Riordan founded the Riordan Clinic in 1975 (then known as The Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning International Inc.), in many ways it would not have been possible without the outstanding contributions of Bob Page and the Page family. Bob’s financial genius, ability to solve current problems, and see the complexities of each “problem” to plan for the future greatly benefited the Clinic. His service to the Riordan Clinic covered many important areas including serving on the Board of Directors from 1987 to 1998.

Robert A. Page had a colorful childhood. He was the youngest in a family of 18 children. His mother died when he was an infant and his father died before he was 16. At the age of 16 he applied for rights of majority to be declared an adult with the privileges that accompanied that decision. From early on Bob showed drive and tenacity.

Bob graduated from high school at age 16 and was accepted at Kansas University (KU). At KU he met Margery Henry and there they began a friendship. After three semesters at KU he enlisted in the Air Force three weeks after his 18th birthday. He served during World War II with the B-4 bomber group in England. He and Marge corresponded during that time and what started as a friendship blossomed into a romance. When he returned home they were married. In the years that followed, to their union four children were born: Al, Max, Jill, and Susan.

After the war Bob finished a business degree and passed the Certified Public Account (CPA) on his first try, and took a job with Elmer Fox and Company. He rose quickly in the ranks of the business because of his ability to understand complex ideas and connections. After working there a while, he decided that he needed to obtain a law degree in order to understand all sides of the financial issues. He and Marge packed up their three children and went back to KU to work on a law degree. He obtained the law degree and after interviewing several law firms he decided to return to Elmer Fox. The deciding factor was the ability to work with the clients.

One of Fox’s customers was Ray Garvey an eccentric, unpretentious businessman. Page and Garvey hit it off and had a long business relationship at Elmer Fox. After Ray Garvey was killed in an automobile accident, Page started working on a plan to cover all of the areas that he had identified as problems. He told Mrs. Garvey that they needed to hire an administrator who needed specific skills to help her solve the problems facing the business. She thought it over for several months before she asked Bob to fill that position. He resigned from Elmer Fox and Company, where he had been a partner, and started working incredible hours to straighten out the tangled Garvey affairs.

In the beginning Bob was not a supporter and referred to The Center as doing Voodoo and other uncomplimentary terms. The first thing that caused a reversal of his original opinion was the way Doctor Riordan was able to help Bob’s wife, Marge. Marge Page had been involved with golf and in particular young golfers and making music. Because of arthritis, she could no longer hold a golf club or play the keyboard. Marge would be the first patient to experience the healing abilities of Doctor Riordan in the symptoms of arthritis. Marge had a full range of tests and it was discovered, among other things that she had sensitivity to specific foods.

After Marge eliminated specific items from her diet and substituted other ingredients, and included once a week chelations, she was able to return to her love of golf and making music. When the new Riordan Clinic facility was being built, Bob donated the money to build the reception dome that is now known as the Marge Page Dome.

After moving to the new facility, it was a struggle to cover all the expenses. A donation that lifted Doctor Riordan’s spirit about this time was for a jogging trail around the small lake. Bob was a smoker who often saw the sign that read, “Thank you for not smoking.” He made the donation with the stipulation that the trail have a sign that read, “Thank you for not jogging.” Doctor Riordan appreciated the Bob’s humor. The sign is still there today and causes many people to look at it with a puzzled look on their faces, trying to figure out why a health facility would thank a person for not jogging. Bob was a unique individual who was becoming a major supporter of the Clinic.

Doctor Riordan was able to diagnosis and treat medical conditions with which Bob Page suffered. Sometimes Mr. Page had to have an injection or an IV. One thing he had in common with most of us, he really hated needles. One time after an IV he told the nurses that they would not be seeing him until after the Christmas bells were ringing, this event was several weeks away. Before that time arrived he had to have another IV and when he arrived at the clinic he brought two bells to give to the nurses so they could hear the “Christmas bells.” Bob really appreciated the nurses and would often purchase bags of M&Ms for them.

Bob Page became a Board Member in 1987 when Mrs. Garvey requested that he join the Board. She knew that Bob was a genius in efficient management and was phenomenally loyal. Although he had started out being suspicious of Riordan Clinic and Doctor Riordan, he had become a supporter. He knew the good that could be done at the Clinic and went about making critical changes. Tough love could have been coined about Bob Page.

Doctor Riordan had tremendous respect for Bob Page’s abilities and also could not pass up a challenge. Working with Bob Page would be a challenge but he knew the Clinic would benefit from Bob’s wise counsel. Doctor Riordan made the right decision in accepting Bob Page on the Board of Directors. Although a sometimes-difficult taskmaster, he truly cared about Riordan Clinic and contributed greatly to its success. He remained on the board until his death.

At Mr. Page’s funeral, the whole Garvey clan was in place very early to show their respect for this caring man who sometimes hid his big heart behind a gruff exterior. He had gone beyond what was expected of him and had enriched their lives in so many ways. The Clinic staff also turned out early to show the respect he had earned from the whole staff. Later the Pyramid was named the Bob Page Pyramid in his honor. His dedication and determination are remembered today.

Unpublished manuscript by Marilyn Lake Landreth