Schizm
08-13-2007, 12:02 PM
My grandfather died early Saturday morning. Because, in comparison to my mother, I'm not a wordsmith, I'll let the obituary she wrote speak for me:
PEDERSEN -- Frank A. Pedersen M.D., 87, known as “Doc Pedersen” in the Santa Ynez Valley for over 55 years, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2007 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital after a long illness. Son of Arthur Valdemar Dusinius Pedersen and Emily Margaret Meier, he was born August 5, 1920. He was raised in Los Angeles, which he remembered as “a paradise” in those years.
An emergency appendectomy at the age of 11 inspired him to become a physician. After graduating from Manual Arts High School, he took his bachelor’s degree from UCLA in Zoology and went on to complete medical school at USC while enlisted in the US Army. While serving as a Captain in the Medical Corps at the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, he met a pediatric nurse on a “blind” date (he confessed to having peeked first, though), Jean Mize of San Bernardino. It was love at first sight and they were married August 18, 1945.
Frank Pedersen completed his residency at Harbor General Hospital in LA and went on to private practice for three years in San Fernando. The young family relocated to Solvang in January 1952, where Frank and his medical school classmate William Van Valin established their practice in an old house on the corner of Atterdag and Mission Drive. He was a member of the American Medical Association and the Santa Barbara County Medical Society, serving on the staffs of Lompoc, St. Francis, and Cottage Hospitals.
Doc Pedersen implemented the first polio vaccination clinic in Santa Barbara County. He was instrumental in establishing the Santa Ynez Valley Hospital, which opened in 1964, and in developing the Santa Ynez Valley Recovery Residence at the Solvang Lutheran Home on the site of the old Atterdag College. He served on its board as Medical Director for about 20 years. He loved his 36 years of practicing as a “country doc” in the Santa Ynez Valley. He was credited with delivering over 800 babies in a variety of venues from hospitals, farms, homes and cars all over the county. Dr. Frank was known to make house calls long after that phenomenon had gone out of fashion, some times exchanging his services for eggs, produce, etc…. He was often the first responder at the scene of an accident, and served as team doctor during many Santa Ynez Valley Union High School sporting events.
His passion for fishing began at age 5, when his father introduced him to the rod and reel at a local pier in Southern California. His love for the sport took him on adventures from Alaska to Baja. The sea was a source of lifelong fascination for him. His favorite fishery was the Santa Barbara County coast, where he courageously mastered the coin-operated winch to launch his boat off the Gaviota pier (on one occasion his boat plummeted into the ocean due to faulty equipment). Doc was also a frequent face on Lake Cachuma, angling for the largest trout while enjoying the beauty and serenity of the lake. He often said “I fish on my day off so no one can reach me.” Only once did someone actually rent a boat and summon him to the hospital. A prodigious fisherman, he usually caught far more than his family could eat, so he was frequently known to deliver fresh fish, cleaned and expertly filleted by his own hands to friends and colleagues.
Doc Pedersen often spoke of how he truly loved the Valley and especially its people resulting in many lasting and valued friendships. He held a keen sense of community spirit and supported community organizations. Doc Pedersen was the last surviving charter member of the Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Club (chartered March 10, 1959). He also helped to found and served eight years as chairman of the valley Men’s Forum.
Frank loved children and was an involved father. When his youngest child graduated from high school, he said "We've had kids in the house for over 35 years. I don't know what we'll do when we're not raising them." He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Jean, and two sisters, Virginia Rafferty and Phyllis Novak of Southern California, son Arthur Pedersen and his wife Dian of San Marcos, son Philip and his wife Brenda of Santa Ynez, daughter Paula Andersen and her husband Keith of Santa Barbara, and daughters Wendy Pedersen of Albuquerque and Elizabeth Pedersen of Solvang. He also leaves behind ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to every member of the staff at the Recovery Residence for their loving care!
A memorial service will be held Thursday, August 16th at 11:00 AM at Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Santa Ynez Valley Recovery Residence.
PEDERSEN -- Frank A. Pedersen M.D., 87, known as “Doc Pedersen” in the Santa Ynez Valley for over 55 years, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2007 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital after a long illness. Son of Arthur Valdemar Dusinius Pedersen and Emily Margaret Meier, he was born August 5, 1920. He was raised in Los Angeles, which he remembered as “a paradise” in those years.
An emergency appendectomy at the age of 11 inspired him to become a physician. After graduating from Manual Arts High School, he took his bachelor’s degree from UCLA in Zoology and went on to complete medical school at USC while enlisted in the US Army. While serving as a Captain in the Medical Corps at the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, he met a pediatric nurse on a “blind” date (he confessed to having peeked first, though), Jean Mize of San Bernardino. It was love at first sight and they were married August 18, 1945.
Frank Pedersen completed his residency at Harbor General Hospital in LA and went on to private practice for three years in San Fernando. The young family relocated to Solvang in January 1952, where Frank and his medical school classmate William Van Valin established their practice in an old house on the corner of Atterdag and Mission Drive. He was a member of the American Medical Association and the Santa Barbara County Medical Society, serving on the staffs of Lompoc, St. Francis, and Cottage Hospitals.
Doc Pedersen implemented the first polio vaccination clinic in Santa Barbara County. He was instrumental in establishing the Santa Ynez Valley Hospital, which opened in 1964, and in developing the Santa Ynez Valley Recovery Residence at the Solvang Lutheran Home on the site of the old Atterdag College. He served on its board as Medical Director for about 20 years. He loved his 36 years of practicing as a “country doc” in the Santa Ynez Valley. He was credited with delivering over 800 babies in a variety of venues from hospitals, farms, homes and cars all over the county. Dr. Frank was known to make house calls long after that phenomenon had gone out of fashion, some times exchanging his services for eggs, produce, etc…. He was often the first responder at the scene of an accident, and served as team doctor during many Santa Ynez Valley Union High School sporting events.
His passion for fishing began at age 5, when his father introduced him to the rod and reel at a local pier in Southern California. His love for the sport took him on adventures from Alaska to Baja. The sea was a source of lifelong fascination for him. His favorite fishery was the Santa Barbara County coast, where he courageously mastered the coin-operated winch to launch his boat off the Gaviota pier (on one occasion his boat plummeted into the ocean due to faulty equipment). Doc was also a frequent face on Lake Cachuma, angling for the largest trout while enjoying the beauty and serenity of the lake. He often said “I fish on my day off so no one can reach me.” Only once did someone actually rent a boat and summon him to the hospital. A prodigious fisherman, he usually caught far more than his family could eat, so he was frequently known to deliver fresh fish, cleaned and expertly filleted by his own hands to friends and colleagues.
Doc Pedersen often spoke of how he truly loved the Valley and especially its people resulting in many lasting and valued friendships. He held a keen sense of community spirit and supported community organizations. Doc Pedersen was the last surviving charter member of the Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Club (chartered March 10, 1959). He also helped to found and served eight years as chairman of the valley Men’s Forum.
Frank loved children and was an involved father. When his youngest child graduated from high school, he said "We've had kids in the house for over 35 years. I don't know what we'll do when we're not raising them." He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Jean, and two sisters, Virginia Rafferty and Phyllis Novak of Southern California, son Arthur Pedersen and his wife Dian of San Marcos, son Philip and his wife Brenda of Santa Ynez, daughter Paula Andersen and her husband Keith of Santa Barbara, and daughters Wendy Pedersen of Albuquerque and Elizabeth Pedersen of Solvang. He also leaves behind ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to every member of the staff at the Recovery Residence for their loving care!
A memorial service will be held Thursday, August 16th at 11:00 AM at Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Santa Ynez Valley Recovery Residence.