DR.
RICHARD YODER
“Art Happens” might sound like a clever variant of a
popular bumper-sticker
slogan; but those in the arts know that being creative,
and having a forum in which that talent can be showcased,
are two different things. Yes, art happens. But disseminating
one’s creativity can be an expensive undertaking. Even
with the advent of the world-wide-web and its international
scope, one realizes that art without an audience may
not as well have been created.
That is why artists of all varieties are so grateful
when someone with means and the recognition of talent
comes to their assistance; and sometimes it is none
other than the artists themselves who come to the rescue
Dr. Richard Yoder, a retired gynecologist and obstetrician,
is one example. While he reached his professional and
personal stride in the St. Louis area, Dr. Yoder was
born in Orville, Ohio-the home of Smuckers preserves-then
moved to Wooster, Ohio in 1931 at age 16. While in high
school he decided he wanted to be a doctor. After undergraduate
studies at Wooster, he served for two years in the Navy
and then went on to fulfill his dream, entering medical
school at Medical Wesleyan Reserve in Cleveland.
He married in 1950 and graduated from medical school
in 1951. He did his residency at Colorado General Hospital.
Because his first rotation was ob-gyn, Dr. Yoder decided
to further his specialty into obstetrics and gynecology.
In the course of his 30 years in practice, he delivered
between 8,000 and 9,000 babies. He has five children
of his own-one son and four daughters-and sixteen grandchildren.
Dr. Yoder was invited to come to Alton, Illinois, in
1956, directly from his residency in Colorado, to begin
private practice.
He retired in 1986 after thirty years of practice, while
still young enough to enjoy it. However, he continued
to read medical charts until age 70 and just this year
celebrated his 75th birthday. Dr. Yoder cannot remember
a time when he was not interested in theater or classical
music. He spent his boyhood days in a family that listened
to the New York Philharmonic on the radio. He attended
his first opera in 1937 at age 11 and would often see
the Metropolitan Opera as they toured Cleveland. Taking
to the stage himself, in high school he performed in
the chorus for The Gondoliers and HMS Pinafore.
He had all of sixteen lines in the play Mr. and Mrs.
North before he was murdered on stage. In college,
partly due to Shakespearean courses and also to satisfy
his interest in theater, Dr. Yoder saved enough money
to be able to experience touring companies of Hamlet
and Cyrano de Bergerac with Jose Ferrar and Uta
Hagen. During college, Dr. Yoder did not have enough
money to see all the shows he would have loved to have
see. This had to wait until he established a medical
practice.
After moving to Alton, he was asked in 1976 by the founder
of Alton Little Theatre, Dorothy Colonius, to perform
in their production of Our Town. This began a
long association with Alton Little Theatre both as an
actor and a contributor to the talented, well respected,
and growing community theater group.
Not having had any formal instruction in acting, Dr.
Yoder states he "was always learning from the other
actors". It must have paid off, because he has been
cast in two professional productions at the Repertory
Theatre of St. Louis-The Caine Mutiny and Life of Galileo-and
will soon be seen in the Rep's production of Inherit
The Wind.
Dr. Yoder has also been involved behind the scenes.
He has served on the Board of Directors of the Alton
Little Theater, The New Theatre Company (TNT), and just
recently, the New Line Theatre Company. He also served
for over twelve years on the boards of the Friends of
Theater and Dance at SIU-Edwardsville and the Greater
Alton Concert Association.
Dr. Yoder is being honored today because of his passion
for the arts, as demonstrated by his support both as
a long-time season subscriber and a major contributor
to the following arts organizations: The St. Louis Symphony
Orchestra since 1968, Opera Theatre of St. Louis since
its third season, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
since 1980, Stage, St. Louis since its third season,
New Line Theatre, Joan Lipkin's AC/DC series, and numerous
community theater groups.
In the past he has contributed to the St. Louis MUNY,
the Orthwein Theater, Shattermask, Chris Jackson Productions,
TNT, and funded the CD production of New Line Theatre's
original, "Out On Broadway".
Dr. Yoder is a member and contributor to the St. Louis
Art Museum, the St. Louis Historical Society, the St.
Louis Zoo and the Arts and Education Council. He has
been a patron and volunteer to the Theatre Project Company,
a volunteer with KWMU pledge drives, and he even delivers
Meals on Wheels.
Dr. Yoder's philosophy about his generosity to the arts
stems from his observation that many people are willing
to give to health-related charities and civic organizations
but are less likely to contribute to the arts. He says,
"Considering what other countries do to help finance
the arts and theater, the amount of support from our
government is very slight, and some believe the arts
should not be supported at all." He asks us to ponder
what we remember of the ancient Greeks, "Their poetry,
philosophy, and sculpture [are what have] survived."
Dr. Yoder continues in his passion to experience and
support the arts because, he says, "Theatre and the
arts add to the quality of my life and to the life of
anyone who is willing to delve into them and accept
them." We at ARTS FOR LIFE are appreciative of the personal
interest he has taken in ensuring that there are showcases
for new talent as well as for furthering established
ones.
It is with much sadness that only this week Dr. Richard
Yoder died of complications during heart surgery…October
2, 2000. It was that generous heart that nourished,
encouraged and sustained art, music and theater in our
community and continues to do so even now.
Dr.
Yoder's Lifetime Achievement Award
Was accepted by all five of his children.
Biography-October 8, 2000.
