Dr. Roy L. Titchworth, of Thornburg, always needed two things: human interaction and a beat-up datebook to keep track of it all.

Friday, two days before he died at 76 of pulmonary edema, he met at 10 a.m. with a fellow doctor, traveled to Weirton, W.Va., for a golf game, and then drove to Conneaut Lake for a weekend with his family. He had it all written down, same as always, in that planner tucked inside is jacket pocket.

Every appointment and dinner appeared in pencil, easy to change. Every old datebook remained preserved in a pile. Every new datebook soon looked old.

The pages Dr. Titchworth filled evidenced a life crammed with moments -- of three wives, of weekly Steelers games and nightly Pirates games, of round-the-clock golf, of a professional career as a cardiologist, of years too full for memory alone.

So he used a little golf pencil to help.

"His group at the country club called the datebook his Polish iPod," said his wife, Carolyn.

The full life extended from Dr. Titchworth's desire to be with people, to keep them laughing or keep them engaged.

As a doctor -- he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh's medical school in 1955, and later became chairman of the department of medicine at both St. Francis and South Side hospitals -- Dr. Titchworth relished the chance to interact with patients. He talked to them about procedures. He sometimes exchanged books with them, once he got to know their interests. He gave them so much of his time, he developed a reputation among family and friends for showing up late to everything else.

He battled emphysema during his last 30 years, but that only meant he needed rest between activities.

He held season tickets for the area sports teams, pro and college.

He played golf at Chartiers Country Club, sometimes five times per week.

He invited new members into his gin games.

He traveled to Ireland and Kenya and the Caribbean.

And his family was just as full as his schedule. He had eight children, and had two 20-year marriages before he married Carolyn 13 years ago.

"I don't think he could ever survive being single," said Carolyn Titchworth. "He liked to have somebody around all of the time. He was very much a people person."

Dr. Titchworth recognized the absurdity of a chain-smoking doctor, but just a little too late. He began the habit as a teenager and continued it right through his middle years -- during his time as a skier and as a member of the Pitt tennis team.

One Christmas, he decided to quit smoking cold turkey; he went downstairs and locked himself in the basement for two days. But he developed emphysema in his late 40s.

Only two years ago did he fully retire.

In addition to his wife, Dr. Titchworth is survived by his children, Lynn Rayl-Miller, Lee Titchworth, Larry Titchworth, Robin Countryman, Meghan Zampardi, Brendan Titchworth, Lisa McCartney and Beth McCartney; and eight grandchildren.

Friends will be welcomed today and tomorrow from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the William Slater II Funeral Service, 1650 Greentree Road, Scott. A blessing service will be held Thursday at 10 a.m.