DR. ROBERT HACKLER III

Oct. 25, 2014

 

HACKLER, Dr. Robert H. III, 80, died peacefully at his home in Richmond, Va. on October 25, 2014, with his wife and daughters by his side. Dr. Hackler is survived by his wife of 36 years, Patricia Witt Hackler; daughter, Paige Bates Hackler of Charlottesville; daughter, Ashley Hill Hackler Freeman Ph.D and her husband, Anthony Freeman; and granddaughter, Catherine Marie Freeman all of Richmond; brother-in-law, Tim Witt of Knoxville, Tenn.; cousins, Jay Newton and Randy Newton of Dahlgren; Tom Fowler, Rob Fowler and Fred Fowler of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Henry Long of Richmond. During his final months of losing his battle with cancer, family and many long-time, good friends surrounded him with care. The family especially thanks Dr. Warren W. Koontz Jr. for over 25 years as a medical colleague and for his devoted friendship to Bob that continued throughout Bob’s life. Colleagues describe Dr. Hackler as an excellent surgeon, but he was a humble man who disclaimed praise. He was a natural “comedian,” never trying to be funny, but creating laughter and “Bob Hackler” stories among all who knew him. Dr. Hackler was born in Winston-Salem, N.C., the son of the late Dr. Robert H. Hackler Jr. of Washington, N.C. and Harriet Gresham Bates Hackler of Washington, N.C. and Richmond, Va. He was also predeceased by his aunts, Catherine Beverley “Bev” Bates of Richmond, Ann Bernard Bates Newton of Dahlgren and Doris Hackler Fowler of Winston-Salem, N.C. Dr. Hackler grew up in Washington, where his father was in Family Practice and Diagnostic Radiology. During his high school years he played football, basketball and golf. He remained a golfer and sports fan throughout his life, participating in many golf tournaments and remaining loyal to the Tarheels and Redskins. Dr. Hackler received an AB degree in Chemistry and a Medical Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. During his undergraduate years, he lacked three credits to have earned a double major in history, solely because he loved the subject. He served an internship at George Washington Hospital and an assistant residency in general surgery at D.C. General Hospital. Being one of the first residents under the merged programs, Dr. Hackler completed his Urology training and a fellowship in Renal Medicine at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Hospital and at the Medical College of Virginia. He served three years in the United States Air Force as Chief of Urology at the USAF Hospital in Orlando, Fla. before joining Dr. James Masloff in private practice in Charlottesvile. Dr. Hackler joined the faculty of Virginia Commonwealth University (MCV) as Assistant Professor and as a staff urologist at the McGuire VA Hospital in 1971 and became Chief of Urology at the VA hospital in 1973. Dr. Hackler also performed surgeries at the MCV Hospital and served as Chairman of the Division of Urology there from 1997 through 1999. He mentored the training of over 70 residents during his tenure. Many have remained in Virginia, but others moved across the nation and abroad and some have become professors and Chairs in Urology at other institutions. He was recognized as a national and international expert in managing the spinal cord injured patient and the neurogenic bladder and authored or co-authored many papers on the urologic care of the spinal cord injured patient. His professional memberships include the American Urological Association, American College of Surgeons, Mid-Atlantic Section of the AUA, and the Society of Air Force Clinical Surgeons. He served as president of the Virginia Urology Society. His honors include the Bunts-Hackler Lectureship originally established to honor Dr. Carl Bunts and later extended to include Dr. Hackler. The Division of Urology has established the Robert Hackler Prostate Cancer Research Fund to recognize his work against the disease as a Urologic Oncologist and as a patient. Dr. Hackler retired in 2004. During his retirement years, he continued his interests in collecting antique furniture, antique clocks, stamps and post cards. He was an avid non-fiction reader with special interest in military history. He was a member of Reveille United Methodist Church, 4200 Cary Street Rd., Richmond, Va., where a service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, November 1, 2014. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Robert H. Hackler Prostate Cancer Research Fund, c/o Tina Hamlet, VCU Medical Center, P.O. Box 980118, Richmond, Va. 23298.