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Dr. Gordon J.C. Hershey

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Name:	Gordon Jasper Coldren Hershey Dr.
Spouse:	Connie J. Strine Hershey
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	DECEASED 2008,
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Class of	1949	Attended from through
Graduated Here?	Yes
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College Attended:

Birthdate:	March 13, 1931
Date of Death:	December 16, 2008

Current Occupation:

Notes:	Living in California at the time of his death. Obituary in Post & Mail January 6, 7, 8, 9, 15 & 16, 2009, Pg 3. Arrangements by Struve and Laporte Chapel, Salinas, California. Dr. Gordon J. C. Hershey, age 77, died peacefully after a long battle with Parkinson's disease on December 16, 2008 with his wife of 53 years, Connie, and eldest daughter, Karen by his side. Dr. Hershey was born in Churubusco, Indiana, on Friday, March 13, 1931 to Mary Elizabeth (Coldren) Hershey and Dr. Ernest Allen Hershey (his father delivered him.) He spent his summers on the family farm outside Churubusco where he loved to pretend that he was Wild Bill Hickok. He insisted that his family call him "Bill" and the name stuck, even to this day his nieces and nephews refer to him as "Uncle Bill". In October 1955, he married Connie J. Strine, a registered nurse he met while in medical school, and to this union 5 children were born. Karen L. Hershey PhD. of Hillsboro, Allen L. Hershey M.D. of Salinas, M. Jane Barosso of Livermore, Suzanne Davis of Seattle, WA and Melissa Ann Hershey, who died at birth. Like his father before him, Dr. Hershey attended Indiana University Medical School and obtained his Medical Doctorate in 1956. Daughter, Karen was born one month before his graduation. After medical school, he joined the Air Force as Lt Hershey and served a one year internship at Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. After leaving Madigan he was promoted to Captain and was stationed at Luke Air force Base, Glendale, Arizona as a Flight Surgeon and General Medical Officer, where son Allen and daughter Jane were born. After leaving the Air Force, he took a year long Obstetrics/Gynecology Residency in Maricopa County, Arizona. He continued his OB/GYN residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. From Michigan he moved to Tulare, CA, where he was Chief of OB. In August of 1964, he moved to Salinas, California and became the first Chief of OB at Monterey County Hospital until setting up his own private practice on April 1, 1966. Daughter Suzanne was born in 1968. Dr. Hershey practiced obstetrics/gynecology in Salinas until April 1992 when he retired. His daughters remember him saying that he never lost the thrill of delivering "little miracles". Dr. Hershey loved being active. He enjoyed tennis, racquetball, biking, running, and backpacking. He hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Washington State to Mt. Whitney in Southern California with wife Connie and family members. He especially enjoyed the John Muir Trail from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney, which he hiked in 1980 with his son Allen. He bicycled "The Death Ride" in Alpine County, CA in 1991. When his niece, Nancy Young heard of his death she said," I remember Uncle Bill running before running was popular." Dr. Hershey also enjoyed playing card games, including bridge. He loved a competitive game of poker, and although generally soft-spoken, he was known to sing "have a heart, miles and miles and miles of heart" as he cheerfully beat family and friends at hearts. Dr. Hershey will be remembered as a compassionate, gentle, and generous man who had a zest for life, a keen sense of humor, and a deep abiding love for his family. In addition to his wife and four children, he will be missed by 8 grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00pm on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1071 Pajaro, Salinas, CA 93901. The family is requesting in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund 2511 Garden RD, B200 Monterey, CA 93940 or The Parkinson's Institute, 675 Almanor Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94085.

Last Updated:	01-20-2009		Alumni ID:	12446

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