Senate Resolution No. 2825
BY: Senator JACOBS
MOURNING the death of Dr. Evan Calkins, prominent
geriatrician, loving husband, father and
grandfather, and devoted member of his community
WHEREAS, There are certain outstanding members of our community who,
through their selfless commitment and dedication, have served to better
the quality of life in our community and have had a measurable positive
impact on the lives of its residents; Dr. Evan Calkins was one such
individual; and
WHEREAS, It is with great sorrow and deep regret that this
Legislative Body records the passing of Dr. Evan Calkins, noting the
significance of his purposeful life and accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Evan Calkins of Hamburg, New York, died on Friday,
January 24, 2020, at the age of 99, just six months shy of his 100th
Birthday; and
WHEREAS, Evan Calkins received his medical degree from Harvard
Medical School in 1945; throughout his illustrious career, which would
traverse nearly seven decades, he specialized in rheumatology and
gerontology; and
WHEREAS, As the first Chairman of Medicine at the University at
Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, after its
incorporation into the SUNY system, Dr. Evan Calkins was faced with the
challenge of combining the departments of medicine at three separate
hospitals, Buffalo General, E.J. Meyer Memorial and Buffalo VA, into a
single University-wide department; and
WHEREAS, Following the successful merge of the three hospitals, Dr.
Evan Calkins became the first head of the University at Buffalo School
of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences' division of Geriatrics and
Gerontology; and
WHEREAS, By the time he retired 12 years later, the division had
trained 10 percent of all fellowship trained geriatricians in the
country, an accomplishment of which he was very proud; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his own practice in Hamburg, Dr. Evans
Calkins served as the senior physician and coordinator of geriatric
programs at HealthCarePlan and as an Emeritus Professor of Medicine and
Family Medicine at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and
Biomedical Sciences; and
WHEREAS, Within the medical profession, Dr. Evan Calkins published
many articles, edited several books, and established numerous medical
and community organizations, including the Network in Aging of Western
New York; and
WHEREAS, As a prominent leader in his profession, Dr. Evan Calkins
proved himself to be a great asset to medicine and to the health and
well-being of the aging population within his community; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Evan Calkins stopped seeing patients in 2014 at the
remarkable age of 93; he then wrote and edited a seven-volume history of
the extended Calkins family; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Evan Calkins and his wife, the former Virginia Brady,
raised nine successful and talented children on their farm in Hamburg,
where each child was taught responsibility and hard work by choosing
their own animal to care for such as sheep, pigs, geese, and even a cow;
it was imperative to the Calkins to instill in all of their children and
grandchildren the importance of family, work and community; and
WHEREAS, His greatest joy in life was doting on his wife and always
looking out for her, a sweet testimony to 73 years of marital bliss,
commitment and true love; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Dr. Evan Calkins is survived by
his nine children, Sarah (Thomas), Stephen (Joan), Lucy (John), Joan,
Ben, Hugh (Beth), Ellen (Joseph), Geoffrey, and Tim (Carol); and a
sister, Patricia; as well as 31 grandchildren and 13
great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Evan Calkins, who displayed many exceptional talents
and unique qualities, lived an immensely beautiful life built on
compassion, kindness, and respect for others; and
WHEREAS, Through his profound words of wisdom, Dr. Evan Calkins'
legacy of infinite selflessness and benevolence, will shine on through
his family's vivid and happy memories; his insight and strength will
forever serve as a beacon of love and hope for all who were privileged
to have known and loved such an amazing person; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Dr. Evan Calkins, and to express its deepest
condolences to his family; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Dr. Evan Calkins.