Robert J. “Bob” Joseph Fragen, beloved physician, educator, family man and longtime Chicago resident, passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
Born on January 18, 1935, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Bob was raised in Whiting, Indiana by his devoted parents, Nathan and Ruth Fragen.
Bob’s early love for medicine was inspired by a caring aunt who practiced obstetrics–gynecology. He pursued his studies at Indiana University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1956 and his M.D. in 1959.
Following his training in anesthesiology residency, he served as Head of the Anesthesia Department at the Naval Hospital in Beaufort, South Carolina from 1962 to 1964, during which he held the rank of lieutenant in the United States Navy.
In 1964, Bob relocated to Chicago and assumed leadership of the anesthesia department at Ravenswood Hospital, where he remained until 1974.
Under his direction, he established vital programs, including a respiratory care department, a blood gas laboratory, and a coronary care unit.
In 1974, he transitioned to an academic appointment at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, serving as faculty in the Department of Anesthesiology.
During his tenure, Bob became a pioneering researcher and educator he discharged over 60 publications and authored two respected academic books.
In a notable contribution to medicine, he was reportedly the first physician in the U.S. to administer Propofol to a human patient a sedation breakthrough that now remains one of the most widely used induction agents in modern surgery.
Dr. Fragen continued teaching medical students, residents and fellows, while guiding clinical research initiatives. His passion for mentorship and scientific inquiry led to a sabbatical year in the Netherlands during 1981–82.
He formally retired in 2012 as a full professor, leaving behind a legacy rich in innovation, compassion, and influence.
Bob and his wife, Joan (Joani) Arenson Fragen, enjoyed a loving 68‑year partnership from teenage years onward, after meeting at a Chicago Federation of Temple Youth conclave.
They shared a deep devotion to travel, learning, sports, and family values Bob carried through every chapter of his life.
He is survived by his four children: Daniel Scott Fragen (and partner Sharon Cognetti), Kathleen Susan Fragen (and husband Louis Weiss), Michael Phillip Fragen (and partner Cheryl Birkett), and Patricia Beth Fragen (married to Carlos Sandoval), as well as Tatjana Popovic.
Bob was also a proud grandfather of Gina Picha (and Deric), Danielle Elizabeth Fragen (and Justin Hartman), Gabriel Edan Aharoni (and Brianne), Sara Ashley Olson (and Jack Olson), Shanna Alexa Fragen, and Ari Michael Fragen. His great-grandchildren include Nolan and Cort Picha, Nick, Blake, and Brynn Olson, and Addison Aharoni. Notably, he was predeceased by his granddaughter, Melissa Anna Fragen.
A funeral service will take place on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue, 1224 Dempster Street, Evanston, IL 60202, with interment following at Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie, IL.
The service will be live‑streamed for family and friends unable to attend in person.
Bob Fragen will be remembered for his infectious curiosity, steadfast compassion, and the profound impact he made in anesthesiology and medical education. His life was a tapestry of service to patients, students, family, and community.
Though he leaves us after a rich and well-lived 90 years, his legacy continues in the lives he touched, the students he mentored, and the medical innovations he helped propel forward.
