Robert John Kyd
Robert (Bob) John Kyd
Orthopaedic Surgeon
8 November 1941 - 17 April 2015
Bob Kyd was born in Auckland to James Kyd (a company accountant) and Alice (nee Willetts). He had a brother, Warren. Bob commenced school at Owairaka Primary School where he was noted to be witty and popular with his classmates. He had a lifelong interest in aircraft and as a boy spent all his money at model shops on balsa wood, glues and paint for his model aircraft. Secondary schooling was at Mt Albert Grammar. He participated as an Air Force cadet becoming a dead shot with a rifle and winning the top marksman award.
Bob's ambition had initially been to join the RNZAF, but this changed after he spent time in hospital with poliomyelitis before his University Entrance year. Advised by his Mt Albert Grammar headmaster to take a year off, he borrowed course notes and textbooks and tutored himself in his hospital bed, coming spectacularly close to the top of his class in national examinations. Strongly influenced by his hospital experience and the caring people, Bob abandoned the RNZAF ambition for a career in medicine.
After first completing a Pharmacy qualification under the old apprenticeship scheme (on his father's advice that he should have a career to fall back on if he didn't make it in medicine), Bob gained entry into the Otago Medical School in 1963. After two years in Knox College he went flatting with four other students. Bob was noted for his cooking and his stabilising influence. John Moodie, a medical student flatmate observed, "Everybody liked Bob - in his cheerful way, he was the glue that kept us amicably together."
On completion of his MB ChB in 1968, Bob worked at Waikato Hospital initially as a house surgeon and subsequently as a surgical registrar discovering his real interest lay in orthopaedic surgery. In his work he met Chris Bettis, a physiotherapist and they subsequently married. In 1973 Bob and Chris travelled to England where Bob spent two years at the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry, Shropshire, gaining additional orthopaedic experience. Their first child, Rachel, was born during this time.
Returning to New Zealand in 1975, Bob completed his FRACS (Orth) and then worked at Auckland and Middlemore hospitals for two years during which two more children, Alastair and Richard, joined the family. Bob was appointed to a consultant position at Waikato Hospital in 1977 and worked there for the next 37 years while also having a private practice. He was a truly general orthopaedic surgeon with an interest in paediatric orthopaedics, arthroplasty surgery and the Artificial Limb Centre. Bob appreciated that the public education and health system had supported him during his training and felt his contract to medicine was to his community.
Bob was a greatly respected colleague with a ready smile and friendly banter. He always had a kind and thoughtful word and shared his experience when colleagues encountered problems in their practice. Bob was a master of the art of managing patients and they loved his sense of humour, caring nature and his passion for wine, rugby, aviation, and the Goons. His skill in dealing with difficult interactions provided a great example to the trainees he mentored. Bob held the position of Clinical Director for orthopaedic surgery at Waikato Hospital for 15 years, during which he was a strong team player, always welcoming questions and opinions and ensuring all members of the department felt valued.
Bob ceased operative surgery in 2010, but continued to work part time in the orthopaedic department in administration, outpatient clinics (including 2 outlying hospital clinics) and in the limb fitting clinic, until halted by a diagnosis of cancer in May last year.
Bob had the ability to get on with anyone, regardless of their station in life. Tony Cull a good friend and colleague for 46 years noted, "Bob was conscientious, loyal, assured, helpful, measured, without envy, content, a team man, conservative, traditional. He lived within himself and set his own goals. He was one of the most contented and fulfilled people I know." He treasured his work/family balance.
Bob's interest in aircraft, particularly military aircraft, continued throughout his life and he enjoyed building and flying numerous radio-controlled model aircraft. He gained his private pilot's licence in 1990. Besides the pleasure of managing the family lifestyle block, other hobbies included fishing (he loved a perfectly smoked trout) and reading.
It has been said "regretfully Bob didn't have time to enjoy his retirement." Not so! He loved every minute of his life and going to work in the morning energised him. He wanted no other way.
Bob is survived by Chris, daughter Rachel, sons Alastair and Richard, and six grandchildren. A service on Thursday, April 23, honouring Bob's life was attended by peers from as far distant as Melbourne.
This obituary is based upon that prepared for the Waikato Times by Roy Burke, with contributions from Bob's family, colleagues and friends.