Time out with T.O. – Dr. Gust’s well-played hand

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Today we debut “Time out with T.O.” — a regular column by Tom O’Connor, senior associate director of media relations in the department of public relations. In these columns, O’Connor — who has been at UNMC for more than 21 years — will offer reflections about life at the medical center.)

In poker and in life — you play the cards you’re dealt.

Those words struck home for me last week with the death of my friend and colleague, Bill Gust, M.D.

For 20 years, Dr. Gust and I co-hosted the “Community Health Line” radio show on KIOS-FM (91.5).

Tom O’Connor

Every Wednesday morning, we met at the station for the 30-minute program that typically involved live interviews with guests from UNMC.

The show was a mix of work and fun. We got to rub shoulders with the best and brightest at UNMC.

Bill was the lead announcer. I was his straight man.

To launch each show, Bill would share several quotes from famous people. I would weigh in with some sort of spontaneous comment.

Often, Bill would interject humorous quotes. I always thought Groucho Marx was his best source — “I never forget a face, but in your case I’ll make an exception.”

He loved to set me up.

“On this date in 1933,” he would say, “was a landmark event for Tom — the repeal of prohibition.”

I would usually utter something profound like, “I’ll drink to that.”

As the years went by, Bill incurred some major health issues. A lymphoma survivor, the effects of his radiology treatments took a toll on his voice, breathing and swallowing. He eventually required a tracheotomy.

He sounded like Darth Vader and could only speak in short bursts of three or four words.

UNMC’s William Gust, M.D., left, and Tom O’Connor hosted Community Health Line for more than 20 years. Dr. Gust died last week at age 69.

Three years later, as if his luck wasn’t bad enough, Bill went into cardiac arrest and nearly died. He underwent a quadruple bypass.

“No problem,” he proclaimed. “I should be back in a couple weeks.”

He did the show for 13 years with his tracheotomy and for 10 years after his cardiac episode.

Which brings me back to where I started.

Through it all, Bill never complained. Quit the show — no way. He was going to play this hand until he ran out of chips, which he finally did on Oct. 1.

But, as it turns out, Bill cashed out a big winner.

He was loved and respected by many and his life proved to be a lesson in persistence.

He showed us a good way to play the game of life. How could we be so lucky?