Bob Bezanson, former CoxHealth CEO and president, dies at 76
Former CoxHealth CEO and President Bob Bezanson died on June 3 at home, according to Greenlawn Funeral Home.
Bezanson had a long career with CoxHealth, starting in 1981 when he became assistant administrator of what is now Cox North, according to previous News-Leader reporting. He became CEO in 2003, and retired in 2011.
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According to a CoxHealth press release, the new construction he led as CEO earned him the local moniker “Bob the Builder.” Under his leadership, the organization opened Cox Surgery Center, the Meyer Orthopedic Center, the Cox South Emergency Department and the critical care expansion at Cox South.
“Behind his brilliant technical mind was a huge heart and caring soul that fueled his passion for everything,” said Ron Prenger, executive vice president and chief operating officer, in a statement from CoxHealth. “Though Bob was proud of the buildings, he often shared with me that he was most proud of the culture in our organization. He truly cared about our employees, his team and our patients.
“I will always appreciate his leadership, as well as the sage guidance and positive motivation he offered. If you were fortunate enough to know Bob, you saw and felt that caring aspect more than any other quality. He was a leader, mentor, friend and colleague to so many of us and he will be greatly missed.”
Steve Edwards, who recently retired at the end of May, took Bezanson's place as CEO in 2011. Max Buetow is currently CEO of CoxHealth.
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Prior to his 30-year tenure at CoxHealth, Bezanson was commissioned as a lieutenant in the medical service corps of the U.S. Airforce during the Vietnam War, during which time he was an assistant hospital administrator at a base in Thailand and later was an assistant administrator at Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C.
He earned a master's degree in healthcare administration at Washington University St. Louis, according to a 2011 CoxHealth profile.
Bezanson is survived by his wife of 51 years, Cindy; his mother, Marjorie, of Maryland; his brother and sister-in-law, David and Caren; as well as his nephews Mike and Matt, and their families.
Visitation will be from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 9, at Greenlawn Funeral Home East, 3540 E. Seminole St.
In lieu of flowers, the families asks that donations to be made to either of these charities: CoxHealth Foundation, 3525 S. National Ave., Suite 204, Springfield, MO, 65807 or Mid-America Transplant Foundation, 1110 Highlands Plaza Drive East, Suite 100, St Louis, MO, 63110, Attn: Brett Gordon – Family House.
Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Bob Bezanson, former CoxHealth CEO and president, dies at 76
