Dr. Charlie "Papa" Gilbert Sr.

Dr. Charles S. Gilbert, more affectionately known as "Papa," had an uncommon appreciation of the simple gifts of life: the smile of a small child, the sweet sounds of Mozart, the rugged scenery of a mountain landscape, a hearty dinner and a chilled martini (aka papatini). But the one thing Papa loved more than anything was his family and friends. His 93 years were filled with joyous laughter, and a desire to make others laugh.

Charlie was born on May 18, 1918, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up an only child on the South Side, and quickly developed a love of music, becoming a fine violinist as a young child. He also acquired a variety of esoteric hobbies, including taxidermy, bug collecting and stamp collecting. Although he was somewhat of a loner as a child, his unusual interests belied a unique intelligence that was never compelled to follow convention.

Charlie attended Mt. Carmel High School, beginning a long tradition in the Gilbert family that continued to his grandchildren. He developed a keen interest in chemistry, graduating in 1935. He attended St. Viator's College for four years, but never actually received a degree because the school closed before degrees were dispensed. Undeterred, Charlie went on to St. Louis University Medical School, earning his medical degree in 1943.

Dr. Gilbert did his residency at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, where he continued to practice for the rest of his career. He was a tremendously respected and dedicated internist, doing house calls and accepting late phone calls at home even while raising his unusually large family. A gentle and empathetic healer, Dr. Gilbert was widely admired and loved in the Mercy community. He even had the privilege of practicing medicine in partnership with his eldest son, Chuck, toward the end of his career.

Without a doubt, the defining event in this young doctor's life was when he met a stunning nutritionist from rural Nebraska named Mary Frances Brannen. The big city doc and the small town beauty had a compatible synergy virtually unmatched in the annals of relationships. Charlie married Mary on June 25, 1947 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greeley, Nebraska, and life was never the same again.

The newlyweds honeymooned in Yellowstone National Park, and lo and behold a son was born nine months later. Perhaps influenced by the clock-like precision of Old Faithful, Charlie and Mary began producing children with an efficiency that would make the Swiss watch industry proud. Nine children in thirteen years! Chuck, George, John, Joe, Steve, Ed, Mary, Mike and Frank. Eight boys and one girl, all raised in the tumultuous sixties and the permissive seventies. An impossible task, so it would seem. But Charlie and Mary, through the sheer strength of their grounded and loving personalities, managed to instill in each and every one of their children a strong sense of honesty, humor and humility.

In 1978, Charlie and Mary's first grandchild, Steve, was born. Mary became "Nana" and Charlie became "Papa." A legend was born. Twenty-five more granchildren soon followed: Jim, Cathy, Annie, Carisa, Ashley, Collette, Paul, Kirsten, Colin, Christopher, Bridget, Molly, Kelly, Kiernan, Crystal, Adam, Michael, Danny, Patrick, Amber, Danielle, Sam, Francie, Maureen, and Sophie. Nana and Papa had an unrelenting love for their grandchildren, relishing every minute detail of their lives. The next generation began recently, with Brooks, Charlie and Adelaide leading the way, and many more expected in the coming years.

Papa retired from the practice of medicine in 1983. He and Nana moved to Phoenix, Arizona to escape the cold Chicago winters. Not content to sit back and wither away in retirement, Papa pursued a plethora of new hobbies, most notably building doll houses and cooking. Papa took to cooking so vigorously and adeptly that some of his grandchildren thought that Nana, a gourmet cook in her own right, did not even know how to cook.

Papa was devastated when Nana finally succumbed in July 1996 following a long bout with Leukemia. It seemed at the time that Papa could not subsist without the strong and loving presence of Nana. But in another of his visionary moves, Papa picked up, moved back to Chicago, and recreated himself once again.

The epilogue of Papa's life was spent in Bethlehem Woods Retirement Home in LaGrange Park, Illinois. He continued to pursue his passions, including season tickets to the the Lyric Opera and Chicago Symphony. He traveled often to see his children and grandchildren until his health would no longer allow. He finally celebrated the White Sox winning the World Series, after only 87 years.

Papa pursued life with an infectious and joyous enthusiasm until his very last days. The rumor is that he was finally done in by three martinis, a huge plate of spaghetti and a root beer float - a poetic ending to a life brimming with an appetite for all things good and simple.

Papa passed away on June 14, 2011, at George and Berta Gilbert's home in Hinsdale, Illinois. His death was painless and peaceful, as beautiful as could possibly be. He was surrounded by Family members and looked forward to reuniting with his beloved Nana.

In the end, it all comes down to laughter. Laughter was the currency of Papa's life, keeping him alive and vital for a robust 93 years. Papa's last semi-conscious act was a soft chuckle. Even in his death, Papa was teaching us all how to live.

Dr. Charles S. “Charlie” Gilbert, Sr., age 93, beloved husband of the late Mary Frances, nee Brannen, devoted father of George (Roberta), John (Jen), Joe (Barb), Steve (Christine), Ed (Jackie), Mary Catherine (John) Regan, Michael (Theresa), Frank (Rita) and the late Dr. Charles S., Jr. (Betsy); loving papa of 25 and great grandfather of Adelaide and Charlie; cherished father in law of Mary Grace Gilbert. Dr. Gilbert practiced medicine for 42 years at Mercy Hospital in Chicago. Visitation Friday 3-8 pm at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 5015 Lincoln Ave., Lisle (on Rt. 53, ½ mile south of Ogden Ave. / Rt. 34) where funeral services will begin Saturday 10:30 am and proceed to St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, Naperville for Mass at 11:30 am. On behalf of Charlie’s grandson, Paul, memorials may be made to Misericordia Home, 6300 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago, IL 60660. For info, call 630-964-9392.