FALLS STILL RISING

The obstetrician gynecologist who delivered a biblical number of babies— between 11,000-12,000—in his career once welcomed a Matthew, a Mark, and a Luke to the world on the same day during his residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago.

Surely a John would be born by the end of his shift.

“That was the hope,” Dr. Hugh Falls, 93, recalls. “But the final boy I delivered that day was named Gordie, or some name other than John.” Dr. Falls, who practiced at Lake Forest Hospital (now Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital) from 1964 to 2019 and served as its two-term (1975 to 1976) president of medical staff, then laughs. Laughing and eliciting laughter might be tied for his favorite pastime.

Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital (NMLFH) Medical Director Dr. Michael Bauer met Dr. Falls in 1988, when Bauer was a first-year pediatrician at Lake Forest Hospital.

“The first thing Dr. Falls said to me was, ‘Boy, they’re making them younger,’” Dr. Bauer says. “I probably looked no older than 20. Then, in typical Dr. Falls fashion, he told me a string of jokes, putting me at ease immediately. Dr. Falls is a combination of the consummate professional and that person you’d want to hang around with for hours.”

Add “Local Legend” to the combo.

Each year, the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff presents a Local Legend, honoring someone who has contributed significantly to the community and the world. Dr. Falls will be celebrated at the Local Legends Benefit on September 22 at the History Center in Lake Forest. Attendees will get to enjoy Dr. Bauer interviewing Dr. Falls.

“Legend? Me? No,” insists the humble-to-the-bone Dr. Falls, whose three grown children with his wife, Alice, live in Lake Forest. “I’m just a guy who continues to feel lucky that I’ve lived in the Lake Forest community for as long (since 1964) as I have. There’s such a wonderful spirit here, with people who are highly educated, engaging, and interesting.”

Dr. Falls joins the ranks of Captain James Lovell, Ryne Sandberg, and Bill Kurtis, among 13 other Local Legends.

“I get tears in my eyes, knowing Dr. Falls is a Local Legend, because, to me, he truly exemplifies a legend at the local level and he’s as worthy of the honor as many past Local Legends, who are known nationally and internationally,” says Sara Mahler, a History Center member of the board of directors and Dr. Falls’ office manager from 1965-1972.

Raised in River Forest as one of six sons of Frederick, an obstetrician, and Margaret, Hugh Falls attended Oak Park and River Forest High School, where he met his future wife in his junior year. He attended Carleton College in Minnesota and earned his medical degree at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

Dr. Falls averaged 50 deliveries a day while working 24- hour shifts as a resident at Cook County Hospital from 1957 to 1960. In one shift, he delivered an astounding 110 babies and probably slept like one afterward.

“The field of medicine fascinated me,” Dr. Falls says. “I cherished moments with my patients, and I will always be grateful for doing what I was able to do, sometimes saving lives, because of the excellent training I received.”

But you can’t teach kindness, compassion, patience, or listening skills—traits that exuded from Dr. Falls whenever he interacted with a patient.

“What made Dr. Falls popular with his patients was his welcoming persona, which drew people to him right away,” Dr. Bauer says. “I’m thrilled there’s a lecture series at the hospital named after him.

“The Local Legend honor,” he adds, “is such a fitting one for Dr. Falls.”

The History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff is located at 509 East Deerpath Road in Lake Forest. Call 847-234-5253 or visit lflbhistory.org for more information. To register or become a patron sponsor for the Local Legends Benefit on September 22, visit lflbhistory.org/give-join/local-legends. An exclusive cocktail event will be held for Patron Sponsors on September 6 at an historic home.