Dr. Robert "Bob" C. Lusik

Dr. Robert “Bob” C. Lusik was a doctor with a giant heart, one that always wanted to give. Raised in Wading River, New York, Bob spent his childhood reading mountains of books, building model spaceships, and working on the family farm. From a young age, Bob had the desire to help people and animals alike. After studying respiratory therapy at Nassau Community College and the SUNY Upstate Medical Center, he went on to receive his medical degree in 1986 from the SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine. During those years, he worked at Smithtown General Hospital and St. John’s Episcopal Hospital. Upon receiving his medical degree, he worked at Southside Hospital, St. Charles Hospital, and J.T. Mather Memorial Hospital. With strong family ties to the Wading River Fire Department, he eventually became the longtime physician of the Wading River and Ridge Fire Districts. Specializing in Family Medicine, he would open his own practice where he worked until he moved to Bluffton, South Carolina with his family in the early 2000s.

For over twenty years, Bob worked in the Bluffton/ Beaufort/ Hilton Head area helping as many people as he could, serving as a Staff Physician and Medical Director at Novant Health Urgent Care (formerly Doctor’s Care) and Medical Director for the Bluffton Township Fire Department. He was known for his wit and his humor, often times making one laugh even in the darkest of times. His sense of exploration was limitless: he loved space, everything tech, and was always eager to learn something new. He had a wealth of knowledge, both obscure and well-known. He enjoyed teaching others: as a young child he taught younger children about the space program and as an adult, he went on to teach at Nassau Community College, SUNY at Stony Brook, and was a Clinical Preceptor for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistant Students. Bob was a kid at heart; he loved Disney World and theme parks. Whenever he got a chance, he wanted to go to Disney. When doctors first suspected cancer, his first thought was “let’s go to Disney World.”

It is a cruel irony that a spectacular and unique man would be taken by a rare, very fast and aggressive form of cancer known as Stage IV Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcinoma. He found the investigation of his own illness interesting and always clung to hope. Stressing the importance of family, he often quoted Lilo and Stitch’s, “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind.” What Bob loved most in the world, aside from his family and Disney, was kindness, and he wanted to be kind. Even in the throes of his cancer, he wished that he could have helped more people. He enjoyed being outside, near the beach, listening to thunderstorms, stargazing, science fiction, and life itself. He will be greatly missed by family, friends, and patients alike.

Bob Lusik, 71, passed away at home surrounded by his beloved family Friday, June 5th. He is predeceased by his sister, Linda Lyczkowski, and his parents, Florence and Charles Lusik. He is survived by his wife, Wendy Lusik, and their children Robert Shannon (Kaitlyn McKenna) and Tori Lusik.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 11th at Sauls Funeral Home in Bluffton from 10am to 11am with visitation Wednesday, June 10th from 5pm to 7pm and Thursday from 9am to 10am.

In lieu of flowers and to honor Bob’s love of the arts, education, and animals, donations may be made to the Coastal Discovery Museum (CoastalDiscovery.org), 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 or the Angel Fund at Carolina Veterinary Critical Care, 21 Buck Island Road, Bluffton, SC 29910. 

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