The midday sun wound around to the south face of the Wigton Heritage Center and streamed down into the visitor’s center named for Robert Wigton, MD.
In the same way, Dr. Wigton’s light shone down upon his family, friends and med center colleagues during a celebration of his life.
Monday, dozens of people close to Dr. Wigton gathered to remember a pillar of UNMC’s history — the campus’ unofficial historian, a valued faculty member whose career spanned decades and a Renaissance man whose varied interests brought light to those around him.
They shared their recollections of Dr. Wigton — or simply Bob to them — against the backdrop of the special library collections now arrayed in the Wigton Heritage Center thanks to his generosity. They spoke before the restored facade of the original University Hospital that has again become a campus focal point.
In telling their own stories, everyone agreed: Bob Wigton made the people around him better.
See the recording of the celebration of life for Robert Wigton, MD, with a tribute video by UNMC’s Joy Beatie.
Emily McElroy, former dean of the McGoogan Health Sciences Library, said Dr. Wigton formed a strong bond with the library’s special collections team — and made them better stewards of UNMC’s collections because of his care.
“Bob made all of us better,” McElroy said via video. “He was funny. He was caring, and I know that I became a much better person for knowing him.”
Bradley Britigan, MD, dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, said he was always impressed with Dr. Wigton’s understated manner, along with his passion and humor.
“We’re all better for having known him,” Dr. Britigan said, “and his legacy will live on for years through the wonderful center that his vision created and that bears his name.”
Said Vicky Hamm, director of UNMC Graduate Medical Education, “We have lost a giant of a man. His legacy lives on in this building, this campus and in our hearts.
“I know that my life is richer and fuller because of him, and I know that all of yours are, as well.”
UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, said he was especially touched by Dr. Wigton’s sense of humor, his ability to distill simplicity out of complexity and his care.
In the Wigton Heritage Center, Dr. Wigton wanted to demonstrate the prominence of the medical center in a dynamic, ever-changing way, Dr. Gold said. Now, the chancellor said, generations of students, residents and faculty will be able to experience that.
One such concept brought to reality is the Wigton Heritage Center’s sunlit atrium.
As the celebration of life concluded, the service played “Here Comes the Sun” — the ever-bright song from The Beatles about coming out of a long, cold loneliness into the shining sun.
And more than a few friends of Bob Wigton tapped their feet in time with the tune.
See more photos by UNMC’s Kent Sievers from Robert Wigton’s celebration of life.