Leo J. Roberts, M.D., 90, of Oak Brook passed away Jan. 15, 2024, while surrounded by his children.
Leo was born in 1933 in Chicago to Leo and Marjorie (Palmer) Roberts. After a childhood filled with fishing and serving as an altar boy, Leo attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary.
He completed his bachelor's degree at Loyola University Chicago in 1956, and in 1958 he earned his medical degree with Latin honors from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, followed by an internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Leo completed an internal medicine residency in 1960 at the Westside VA Hospital in Chicago.
After completing his residency, Leo joined the U.S. Air Force as a medical corps captain. Upon conclusion of his military service, Leo completed a second residency in ophthalmology at the University of Illinois Ear and Eye Infirmary in Chicago. In 1965 he was awarded a Retinal Disease Fellowship at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.
In 1966, after completion of his fellowship, he returned to Chicago and opened a private ophthalmology practice in Hinsdale while being on the surgical staff at Hinsdale, Good Samaritan and Loyola hospitals. During this time, Leo was also a medical professor at the University of Illinois Ear and Eye Infirmary from 1966-70 and then at Loyola University Hospital from 1970-92. His great love of learning led him to earn his master's degree in 1992 from Loyola University of Chicago.
Leo was board certified in ophthalmology and earned the distinction of Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He was a proud member of the American Medical Association, the Illinois State Medical Society, the DuPage Medical Society, the American Intra-Ocular Implant Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Leo was a 50-plus year member of the Hinsdale Golf Club.
Leo was a devoted husband and father. He had a tremendous love for airplanes, history, science, opera, dogs, chocolate, cigars, beer, German food, watching football games, playing golf, museums and traveling the world. Never one to mention it himself, Leo was an avid philanthropist, giving to countless charitable causes and organizations throughout his life. For many years after retirement from his practice, he continued to practice medicine by donating his services to clinics in underprivileged urban areas.
Leo is survived by his wife, Joyce Ann Roberts, nee Woods; his children, Mary Joyce Roberts, Bessy (Ryan) Friedrich, Jennifer (Jason) Matiyow, Nelly Musso, Robby Roberts and Jessica Roberts; his grandchildren, Kelsey, Jacob, Jonah, Wyatt, Willa, Odin, Behrett, Henry, Hudson, Duke, Scout, Boone, Quincy, Lilly, Aiden, Avery Lane and Olivia; and his brother, Lawrence (the late Pat) Roberts.
Visitation is at 9 today, Jan. 25, at St. Isaac Jogues Parish, 306 W. Fourth St., Hinsdale. A funeral Mass will follow at the church at 10 a.m.
Interment is at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made online to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at http://www.stjude.org.
Sullivan Funeral Home Hinsdale handled the arrangements.
