Renowned surgeon Bosch passes away

Dr Donald Taeke Bosch, the renowned surgeon who worked in Oman for most of his medical career, has passed away. He died at his home in Haramel in Muscat on Monday night. He was 94. Don, as he was known among his friends, arrived with his wife Eloise and children in Oman in January, 1955, after spending three years in Iraq learning Arabic and working in the local mission hospital. He was the first American to be awarded the Order of Oman’ for his service to the country by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 1972.   He worked as a surgeon at the American Mission Hospital in Muttrah, later called the Al Rahma Hospital for many years, while his wife was a teacher in the American Mission School in Muscat.   Bosch worked along with the legendary Dr Well Thoms, who had been in Oman for several years. Sultan Qaboos awarded the Bosches Omani nationality and provided them with a home in Haramel in recognition of their many years of service to the people of Oman. He authored a number of books on seashells in Oman and the Gulf region. He was also an accomplished public speaker and avid tennis player. Bosch is survived by his wife Eloise ?and three children.(Khaleej times)