Jay McGee

1931 - 2010

Musician & Local Physician
Dr. Jay McGee
1931 - 2010


Dr. Jay McGee, a lifetime musician and physician for the Folsom and Sacramento areas, passed away on Tuesday August 3, 2010 at the age of 79.
Born in 1931, Jay was raised in Tulare County, California by his parents, a grocery store owner and grade school teacher.
As a young teenager Jay began playing clarinet and quickly found his lifelong passion for music. Over the years Jay developed the ability to play by ear and became known as an accomplished jazz pianist. He additionally had the ability to play most any reed instrument; a skill which came in handy throughout his life.
Jay's early college years were spent studying music at the University of the Pacific. Upon graduation he joined the Navy Jazz Band and toured for four years. After the Navy, Jay returned to school to study medicine at UCLA where he met his wife, physician Lorraine McGee. They subsequently practiced in Fort Bragg and Arcata California where they had their children.
Jay focused on family practice and later emergency medicine before moving the family to Loomis, California in 1976.
Jay continued to play music on a daily basis for his family, and on weekends with groups of friends for neighborhood parties. He also occasionally played for local school productions such as 'Hello Dolly', and 'Annie Get Your Gun' at the Music Circus in Sacramento.
While living in Loomis, Jay established a medical practice in Folsom, California, and played a major role in running the house as his wife began a grueling medical residency program. After many years in his own practice, he joined FHP as a resident physician until he decided to work fewer hours, moving part time to a public medical clinic in Sacramento.
Jay and Lorraine retired in 1997, then promptly sold their house and purchased a motor home. They spent the next few years driving around the USA and Canada and also traveling to over 40 countries on all 7 continents, attending jazz festivals, visiting friends and family, and exploring new intriguing cultures.
Done with living on the road, Jay and Lorraine next moved to an active senior community in Rio Vista, California. Jay immediately placed an ad looking for musicians of all skill levels, and formed the 'Trilogy Jazz Band'. This not only helped Rio Vista have access to great music, but many senior residents rekindled their interest in instruments they used to play, or picked up new ones. The Trilogy Jazz Band today numbers some 60 members and continues to perform in the Rio Vista area.
When Lorraine had a stroke in 2007, the couple moved to Moss Beach, California to live in a home-style environment near their eldest son and grand children; she passed away in early 2008. In this same home environment, surrounded by family, on August 3, 2010 Jay passed away during the night. Family and close friends held a memorial for Jay on August 7, 2010.
Jay was known for his musical skills, his compassion as a doctor, parent and friend, his laugh and big 'Jay hugs'.
He leaves behind 5 children Ian, Heather; Sean; Kyle; & Lisa, six grandchildren Patrick; Amanda; Stevie; Chad; Tyler; Nick; and three great grandchildren Quinton; Isaac; and Miles.