Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Introduction
This blog is for all those wishing to share a good word and honor Dr. Robert Tafel upon his retirement. Please feel free to share your memories and encouragement with him as he moves on to the next stage of his life. Simply click on the comments button below, and then leave your message. After you have finished typing, click on the "comment as" button. Choose "name/url". Type in your name, and leave the url field blank. You are good to go!
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Aww...enjoy the life of leisure. No more worrying about EMR's;)!
ReplyDeleteLove working with you! ~Tammy Smolinski~
Wow! What a man!
ReplyDeleteDr. T, you have been my doctor for nearly 33 years, way back when you were one of only two Internists at the HEB hospital. You became my doctor when I was in the hospital and just before I was discharged you and I watched Fonzie jump over the sharks on Happy Days. You have been my doc ever since and a good one at that. I now begin my quest for a new doctor, but it is going to be very difficult to find one as good as you have been. Enjoy your retirement, relax, have fun and I hope “computer free”.
ReplyDeleteTo a great friend and doctor,
ReplyDeleteIt was bittersweet to hear you were retiring. I was happy for you, because you will finally get around to all those things you have been postponing. But I was sad for NETIMA, your paitients. I am especially sad for my wife, because she will not have her dear friend and colleague in the office with her anymore. Becky started crying when she told me about your retirement.
Bob, thanks for taking such good care of Becky these last 16 years. She considers you as a mentor, a father, a business advisor, and a trusted confidant. You helped her on call coverage, and went above and beyond, never calling attention to yourself, never complaining about the help you gave. You opened up your home to us. You showered my daughters with gifts. I am so grateful for all you have done.
You have a little something a like to call Class. You have a lot of something that everyone calls Strength of Character. You work hard and truly care for others. And you will be greatly missed.
Thanks, Bob, for being a good friend, a good doctor, and an all around good guy.
Your buddy for Life,
Kelly Sharp
I am so sad...but happy for him most of all!
ReplyDeleteHe's such a great guy.....everyone will miss him and his little quirks. He was a great teacher, compasionate Physician and over-all beautiful person.....I love you Dearly Dr T!
Michelle
I thank God for letting me have the privilege to work with a wonderful, caring, and giving doctor as Dr.Tafel. I will miss you. Thank you for your knowledge and compassion. Enjoy retirement....Love you from your favorite MA Flory 8-)
ReplyDeleteGreat dr!!!! And great person!! Loved to work with you dr. T... Wish you the best and enjoy retirement!!!!
ReplyDeleteSuperman!
ReplyDeleteDr. Tafel I know you will be missed! You are a great man! I had so much fun working with you and getting to know you! Have a blast in retirement as I'm sure you will :-) you will always be remembered!!
ReplyDeleteNikki (claxton) Maples
Dr Bob... We sincerly thank you for 30+ years of caring and compassionate attention to our family's medical needs. I have truly appreciated your sense of humor and the ability to laugh at the absurdities of life sometimes.
ReplyDeleteYou will really be missed.
We wish you well and hope you can truly enjoy your retirement years.
Larry Johnson
Even though I knew this day would come I like many of your patients was in huge denial. I am losing my "partner in crime", my mentor, my sounding board for 16 years. I am a bit lost and lonely. You are such a great psysician and friend. I have a void in my heart that cannot be filled. I sure hope you have lots of fun in retirement because if not I am going to force you back to work!
ReplyDeleteDr. T, you are a very special person & I will miss you so very much!! You were always kind & patient..& what a wonderful sense of humor. I love the twinkle you always have in your eyes. Please know that you are loved dearly & there will never be anyone like you. Thank you for being a part of my life for these many years. Please don't forget about all of us & know you will never be forgotten. You will always have a special place in my heart! Take special care.
ReplyDeleteOMG......I am in shock!!!!!!! I am so sad!!!!! Your office said you are picking up your mail. As you said in your letter, you are like my family, when I needed a boost you were there. The best doctor in the world!!!!! Thank you for your time, your sweet disposition, and all the things you did for me!!!! Please read your mail.
ReplyDeleteKind of a difficult patient here, You always backed up,calmed and lead my doctor through some unchartered waters. You also filled in for her with no problem (the others ran if they could). You where so dedicated to the the TEAM, I observed from a distance, you patiently at work and then the football team that you supported for so long. I hope you enjoy every minute of retirement and thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking care of me for about 30 years. I have appreciated your compassion, kindness and sense of humor. Tears flowed when I received your farewell letter. Another doctor will be chosen, but no one can ever take your place. May you be blessed with good health and happiness in your retirement.
ReplyDeleteHow do I tell you how much you have meant to Milton and me over the past 35 years? Dr. Menti did unbelievable open heart surgery on him and your successful follow-up care allowed us 33 more wonderful years together. Milton trusted and respected you so much, as do I.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck on your future endeavors, enjoy your retirement...I will miss you.
Eva "Jo" Durham
FYI: I am doing the Forteo
Boy you are sneaky. Letting them make appts. for you into September when you had already "left the building". You probably won't miss me nearly as much as I miss you. Remember I said you had to live at least as long as I will (90+). I'll probably meet up with you in hospice care sometime. Enjoy your travels and reading. If you run out of books, call me and I'll give you a lot of mine.
ReplyDeleteDr. T. It has been my privilege for 36 years to be able to work beside you to care patients, to have you for my personal physician, my family members as well, and my friend. I am so happy that you are getting the chance to spend so much needed relaxation with your lovely wife, kids and beautiful grandchildren who are truly our God given rewards.
ReplyDeleteYOu have seen me through lots of sad times and good times and touched my life and heart in so many ways. I will really miss you.
Hope to see you around!
Love to you,
Jan McKinney
Dr.T,
ReplyDeleteI am still in shock, surprised [should not have been] and sad; what am I going to do without you being there to treat me and just being there as a friend. I appreciate all you have done;you are the best friend I could ask for. I was disappointed I did not get to see you the week you decided to hang it up, for my last appointment. My prayers are with you and your lovely family as you venture into your new future. When you go into hospice please let me know as I want you there with me,I am a little older than you and You know how difficult I can be. Ha! I wish you the very best and hope our paths with cross agin. "Happy Trails to You, Dr. Tafel.
Marilyn Davis
P. S. Go Trinity!
Bob,
ReplyDeleteWhen I first met you in 1973, it was only you and I. You were my colleague, my friend, my consultant, my coverage and my mentor. Oh yes and my partner in crime. Somehow we managed to take care of patients long enough to get them to someone who knew what they were doing. Then came along the days of specialists and we were excited to learn from them. Then we knew we are too old to learn anything and not needed and yet we hung around, just to hassle the new young and bright physicians. Now with you leaving it will be tough for me alone against so many of this new generation of God knows what super specialists. So do not go too far as you enjoy your retirement, getting up late, sleeping all night without interuptions, having one day run into another or one week run into another, as I might need your wisdom and encouragement all too often. I am not going to be able to get myself weaned off you, that easily. Your patients and nurses are missing you, too.
Enjoy yourself, you deserve it, my dear friend,
Harish Dhingra
Dr. T,
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS!!! You finally did it!!!! You'll love retirement...it's the best "job" ever!!!
I'll miss our annual visits and catching up on life and laughing abput the "old" days. Next June it will be 50 years!!! Gosh!! That makes us "old fellers"....
You are the best and I'm going to have a difficult time "breaking in" a new Doc. I just about had you broken in.....
Thanks for caring ab out me and always asking about my family. You are a SPECIAL FRIEND.
I pray that God will richly and overabundantly bless you and your family...
Respectfully,
Gerald Streater
Congratulations!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you!
Check out www.oattravel.com
John & I have used them 5 times & have had great trips.
Thanks for all the medical care and advice. You are the best doctor I've ever had in my whole life.
Rose Moody
Dr. Tafel,
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read your letter, I wanted to shout, “Wait! I need to talk to him just ONE more time!” You have become such an integral part of our lives for well over 30 years. You’ve been our counselor, our physician, and our friend. You always guided us with caring and humor. I remember when I got the West Nile Virus; you teased me about the city throwing a tent over my house. It was what I needed since I was so panicked. It’s just hard to imagine you not being there.
I especially want to thank you for all the years of trying and trying to help me with my weight. We’ve been through a lot together to find an answer. Your last recommendation of the gastric sleeve, I believe, has been the answer. Just since July, I’ve lost 40 pounds. I feel so much better and it’s so easy to do. And it was important for me to tell you this. You finally found an answer!
We are delighted that you are taking time for yourself and your family. You deserve this new phase of your life, but never forget that you’ve touched many lives along the way. There are not enough words to thank you for all you’ve done. Always remember that you are loved by many.
Enjoy, Dr. Tafel, enjoy!
Marsha & Alan Paul
Dr. Tafel, I like so many other people,knew this day was coming, but I didn't want to think about it. After Dr. Derbes left, I found you as my physician and I really don't know how long I have been going to you and yet one more time, I had to find another doctor. I went to a new one the other day and at the end I asked how he practiced and he told me. I told him how you practiced with your patients and he said he did about the same, so I feel a little better, but it will be an adjustment and hard to get used to. I wish you all Life has to offer and I hope that you and your wife will enjoy Life to the fullest. God put you in such a good place for all of us patients for you to take care of. You are an amazing physician and I thank you for all of your great care over the years. Linda Stigler
ReplyDeleteDear Dr. Tafel, I was shocked when I attempted to make an appointment to find that you are retiring. You deserve to have a great retirement and time with your family. I want to thank you for the GREAT service to Phyllis and I and my daughter and both my grand children over the last 35 plus years. You will be missed as a friend, and great doctor. May God give you a long life.
ReplyDeleteDr. Tafel,
ReplyDeleteYou were my ex-husband's doctor and probably the best thing for me that came out of that divorce! (Pardon the "humor" but you always understood it). After reading all your bloggers' comments, I totally agree that you are absolutely the BEST physician ever...in every possible way! You CARED about us!
I'm now living in the TX Hill Country and trying to find new docs, so knowing you've retired makes it easier for me to find your substitute (which, so far, hasn't happened!!).
I'm thrilled for you and your family - enjoy the relaxation, the travel, and whatever else strikes your fancy.
Godspeed to you, faithful servant -
Mary Staudt
Doc, Marilyn and I will miss you. You have the best sense of humor I've ever experienced in any doctor, in addition to your excellent diagnostic and treatment skills. Best of luck to you and your family, and I hope you never have to use a laptop for your job again!
ReplyDelete