Richard Robert Knowles

Newport, RI -Dr. Richard R. Knowles 78, of 103 Harrison Avenue ?Pen Craig? Newport, died Saturday, October 9, 2004 at Newport Hospital Newport, RI. He was the husband of the late Colleen Patricia O?Connell Knowles. Born in Newport, RI on May 26, 1926, he was the son of the late Richard Robert Knowles and Anna Christian Knowles. Dr. Knowles was a graduate of De La Salle class of 1944, then spent two years in the Navy serving in the Pacific. Upon return from military service, he attended Loyola University in Chicago where he also worked as a freelance photographer for the Chicago Fire Department. Dr. Knowles received his Medical degree from Yale University Medical School in 1953 where he was also a recipient of the Parker Prize, given to ?that student showing the best qualifications for a successful practitioner?. Upon graduation, Dr. Knowles performed his internship at City of Detroit Receiving Hospital and residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. He then returned to Newport where he practiced medicine at his office on Bellevue Avenue until his retirement in 1993. During his practice at Newport Hospital, he was on the credentials committee from1980-1989, the Medical Executive Committee from 1980-1993, the Nominating Committee in 1983 and 1987 and was Chairman of the Department of Medicine from 1990-1992. He was also a former secretary, vice-president and president of the Newport County Medical Society. Dr. Knowles was a member of the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Internal Medicine, the Newport County Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the Rhode Island Society of Internal Medicine. He was also named Newport Hospital Physician of the year in 1992. Dr. Knowles was also a member of the Newport Country Club, the Redwood Library, and Hazards Beach Club and was a member of Saint Augustins Church in Newport. In Addition, he was a Trustee of the Harold Brooks Charitable Trust. He is survived by two daughters Ann E. Knowles of Newport, RI, and Maureen F. LaChance of Newport, RI, three sons Richard R. Knowles of Chelsea, MA, James P. Knowles of Southborough, MA, and Peter H. Knowles of Newport, RI, three grandchildren, Gina LaChance of Newport, RI, and Caroline Knowles and James Knowles both of Southborough, MA. His funeral will be held on Thursday, October 14, 2004, at 9:00 AM from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian burial at 10:00 AM in St. Augustins Church, Carroll Avenue, Newport. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown.Donations may be made to the Newport Hospital, In Memory of Dr. Richard R. Knowles, 11 Friendship Street, Newport, RI 02840.