By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
Last week, the Independent learned that Richard Marshall Cronin, M.D. of Elmhurst had passed away peacefully on the evening of Saturday, February 27, 2016, surrounded by his wife Claire, his nine children, and his 38 grandchildren.
Married for 64 years to the love of his life Claire Cronin, nee Cusack, he was the proud father of Richard Jr. (Anne Mattimore), Cathleen M. Cronin, M.D. (G. Martin Mullen, M.D.), Brian T. Cronin (Maria Portela), Cynthia Cronin Cahill (Jerome), Daniel J. Cronin (Juliann Ashley), Rosanne Cronin Pompe van Meerdervoort (Antoine), Sheila Cronin Bodee (Richard L.), Thomas C. Cronin (Regan Kuehnle), and John F. Cronin (Dulcinea Gillman); loving grandfather of Maureen, Martin, Kathleen, Sheila & John Mullen; Claire, Johanna, Matt & Ryan Cronin; Denis, Cathleen, Megan, Michael & Claire Cahill; Elizabeth, Sarah, Grace & Daniel Cronin, Jr.; Madeleine, Catherine & Antoinette Pompe van Meerdervoort; Richard, Bridget & Kevin Bodee; Caroline, Anne-Claire, Jilly, Tamsen, Thomas Jr., Rory, Regan Mary, Marshall, Teresa & Eileen Cronin; Dagne, Mathilde, Finbarr & Flannery Cronin.
A solid legacy began in Oak Park…
Born in 1926 in Oak Park, he was raised in River Forest by his parents, Dr. John J. Cronin and Rose Ann Fox Cronin, along with his three brothers, Dr. John J. Jr., Thomas, and Robert, all of whom preceded him in death. Dr. Cronin was a scholar athlete at Fenwick High School, graduating in 1944, and went on to study Pre-Med at the University of Notre Dame, where he also earned a monogram letter in football. He graduated in 1946.
He turned down an offer to play professional football, choosing instead to attend Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, where he graduated in 1950 and became an Orthopaedic Surgeon. Dr. Cronin completed his residency at the University of Illinois’ Research and Education Hospital in Chicago. He practiced in Elmhurst and at Loyola for 55 years.
In 1954, Dr. Cronin enlisted in the Air Force and worked as an orthepedic surgery resident at the Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul. He began his medical practice in Oak Park, seeing patients at Elmhurst Memorial, St. Anne’s and Loretto Hospitals. In 1960, the Cronins moved to Elmhurst.
In the early 60s, he and a group of 10 doctors purchased the land at Palmer and Kenilworth in Elmhurst, where they built a medical office building that still stands. In 1986, Dr. Cronin bought out the other doctors and partners and took over full ownership of the building. It became not only an office but also the central campaign office for those who went on to seek political office like son Dan.
Heisman winner credits Cronin with saving his career
Proud of his ties to Notre Dame, Dr. Cronin became a specialist for injuries suffered by athletes — in a way, he was one of the first-ever doctors of “sports medicine” as it is known today. A great accomplishment that made him proud was working on Notre Dame quarterback John Huarte.
While playing for the Fighting Irish, Huarte was told by doctors in South Bend he would need surgery after separating his shoulder. Legendary Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian urged Huarte to drive into Chicago to see Dr. Cronin, just to make sure the surgery was really necessary — turns out it wasn’t!
According to Parseghian, Dr. Cronin felt the shoulder would heal itself with rest, so they decided to “let Mother Nature handle it” and it apparently worked out. Huarte, of course, went on to not only win the Heisman Trophy, but also to play in the NFL, including a stint with the Chicago Bears. He always credited Dr. Cronin for “saving his career.”
Lots of children and grandchildren, lots of success
Dr. & Mrs. Cronin boast a long list of successful children, who range in occupation from doctors to lawyers to accountants to pilots to architects and more. At the top of that list is Dan Cronin, former state Senator, now serving as DuPage County Board Chairman – a position considered close to being a governor, due to the size of the County. Also among the high-profile children of Dr. Cronin is daughter Cindy Cronin Cahill, who served as Elmhurst City Treasurer back in the 1980s.
And when you have a lot of children, you inevitably had a lot of grandchildren — 38 to be exact. Dr. Cronin’s grandchildren range in age and in talents and were a great source of pride to him. Many have taken up the art of Irish dance and would all come out for parades and special events, as Dr. Cronin drove a tiny red sports car.
Arrangements and memorial requests…
A wake was held on Wednesday, March 9 at Gibbons Funeral Home from 3-8 p.m. Friends and family will meet for a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, March 10, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 134 Arthur Street. Interment Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery in Elmhurst. Memorials may be made to Immaculate Conception Church, 134 Arthur Street, Elmhurst; or to Loyola University Medical Center: Department of Orthopaedics, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, 60153.
Rest in peace, Dr. Cronin. Your contributions to this earth were many and you will be long remembered for the legacy you left behind.
Funeral services were handled by Gibbons Funeral Home in Elmhurst.
