Dr. Emily Jean Knobloch of Jackson, Wyoming died peacefully surrounded by her family from complications of melanoma on May 18. She was born July 10, 1960 to Emily Champion and the late Carl William Knobloch, Jr. in New York City. Emmy lived a life full of love, courage and achievement.
Emmy graduated from the Westminster Schools (Atlanta, Georgia), Davidson College and the University of Minnesota Medical School. At Davidson, Emmy captained the tennis team, was Davidson’s very first female All-American in any sport and was elected to Davidson’s Hall of Fame. At Minnesota Medical School, Emmy was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.
After starting on Wall Street, she found her passion caring for patients as an internal medicine doctor. Dr. Emmy, as she was fondly called, loved her patients and the staff at St. John’s Hospital in Jackson. Her family was also lucky to benefit from her incredible skills, most especially her late father Carl and her partner Robert.
Other interests during her life were horses, playing tennis, fishing expeditions with her father, and rescuing dogs, of whom there were many and all much beloved. She was a Rowland and Ward record book holder and won awards for her marathon times. Most importantly, she knew what she loved, people and animals, most especially stray dogs.
Emmy was an active contributor to her community in Jackson, Wyoming including having served as the Chairman of the St. John’s Hospital board and Medical Director of the St. John’s Living Center in addition to her private practice. She was also a Director of the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole.
So many extraordinary doctors and caregivers have been part of Emmy’s courageous fight against melanoma. We will keep the specific list short and only note very gratefully her care from St. John’s Hospital, Huntsman Cancer Institute and Dr. Martha Stearn.
She is survived by her mother Emily Champion Knobloch, her partner and best friend of many years Dr. Robert Berlin, dear 4-legged child Dr. Shami, sisters Carla Knobloch and Eleanor Knobloch Ratchford (Tom) and her two devoted nephews Joseph Thomas Ratchford III and James William Ratchford. She is also survived by many dear cousins, including Stevens Sharkey and George Champion, whom she considered as brothers.
In lieu of flowers, please remember Emmy and celebrate who she was with acts of kindness to others.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 24 at 11am at First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta . A celebration of Emmy’s life will also be held in Jackson Hole at a later date. There will be a private burial at Putnam Cemetery in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution from May 20 to May 22, 2018