Dr. Robert B. Tunney, a retired Towson obstetrician and gynecologist who delivered thousands of babies during a career of nearly a half-century, died of heart failure Friday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. He was 88.
Born in Baltimore and raised in Hampden, Dr. Tunney, the son of a railroad worker, was a 1935 graduate of Polytechnic Institute. He earned a bachelor's degree from Loyola College in 1939 and his medical degree from the University of Maryland Medical School in 1943.
After completing his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at what is now Mercy Medical Center, he entered into private practice with Dr. E.P. Smith, then chief of obstetrics at Mercy and clinical professor at the medical school.
For many years, Dr. Tunney maintained an office at Courthouse Square Apartments in Towson.
Earlier in his career, he practiced at Bon Secours Hospital and later at St. Joseph Medical Center and at Mercy, where he had been chief resident in OB-GYN.
Even though he delivered his last baby in 1986, he continued working as a gynecologist until retiring in 1999.
"He had probably delivered tens of thousands of babies through the years and recorded them in black books," said his son Joseph A. Tunney of Jarrettsville. "He even delivered children's children."
"Our paths crossed in medical school," said Dr. Edwin H. Stewart, a retired Baltimore surgeon. "He was a jovial man who was well-liked by his patients and respected by his peers."
"I recall him being gone at all hours of the night delivering babies," Joseph Tunney said.
"He literally lived in the hospital at times, taking care of his patients," Dr. Stewart said.
In 1980, Dr. Tunney brought Dr. Basharat J. Aziz into his practice.
"He was a most wonderful person, and the patients loved him because he was so caring," Dr. Aziz said. "When I began working with him he was still delivering 30 babies a month,"
Dr. Tunney was a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a member of the Royal College of Medicine.
Proud of his Irish heritage, Dr. Tunney was a founding member of the Towson Hibernians and enjoyed traveling throughout Ireland. He also had traveled to England, Egypt and Costa Rica.
Dr. Tunney was a communicant of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 103 Church Lane, Cockeysville, where a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. today.
Also surviving are three other sons, William K. Tunney of Perry Hall, Dr. Francis X. Tunney of Mount Pleasant, S.C., and John B. Tunney of Lutherville; six daughters, Melanie A. Weart of Fredericksburg, Va., Marjorie B. Jackson of Towson, Mary P. Young of Monkton, Eileen Tracy Carmen of Perry Hall, and Susan E. Black and Kathleen H. Tunney, both of Lutherville; a sister, Genevieve Denhard of Baldwin; 30 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and his companion of 20 years, Jule K. Deloye. Two sons, Thomas Tunney and Michael Tunney, died at birth. His marriage to the former Marjorie Kreuzer ended in divorce.
fred.rasmussen@baltsun.com
