Stephen A. Gates M.D.

Stephen A. Gates, MD Of Poulsbo, WA died on Saturday, July 22, 2006. He was 53 years old and the beloved husband of Deborah Gates, his wife of 26 years. Dr. Gates was a graduate of the University of Virginia where he received a Bachelor of Science degree with distinction and continued on for a Doctor of Medicine degree. Dr. Gates also completed his internship and residency in anesthesiology at the University of Virginia. His certifications included: Fellow, American College of Anesthesiology and Diplomate, American Board of Anesthesiology; and National Board of Echocardiography Certification in Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography. As a physician, he was respected by his colleagues and leaves behind many patients grateful for his meticulous care. Dr. Gates was the son of the late Anthony and Ann Gates of Colonial Heights, Virginia. In addition to his wife, Deborah, survivors include his sister, Norene Guilford, her husband, Tim and sons, Andrew and Joel, and his brother, Peter Gates and his partner, Michael Wood. Stephen Gates was blessed with a large, extended family and many friends. His siblings and their families, his many aunts, uncles, and cousins and friends have been a source of great comfort and love. An avid outdoorsman, Stephen Gates loved hiking, backpacking, and kayaking, especially in the Olympic Mountains in Washington. His other interests included a deep curiosity about other cultures and the Viking sagas of his ancestral Denmark. He had a gift for learning foreign languages and was currently studying Japanese. He was a gourmet chef and enjoyed amateur radio, rock hounding, and all types of music - from classical and folk harp to the Rolling Stones. His many friends will miss him deeply. Stephen also adored his collie dogs. He learned to love these sensitive and big-hearted animals from his wife, Deborah, whose family has owned collies for three generations. For the past 25 years, Stephen and Deborah's family included one to four collie dogs at any one time. Earlier this year they lost Arlecchino and Miss Amanda to cancer; however, Hunter and Dora have been doing their best to comfort Deborah in her profound grief. Services will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Dr. Gates name may be made to any of the following: Dispute Resolution Center of Kitsap County, 9004 Washington Ave., Silverdale, WA 98383; http://www.kitsapdrc.org, Dance Ensemble Northwest, 1223 Finn Hill Rd., Poulsbo, WA 98370; Stillpointe Llama Sanctuary, P.O. Box 3320, Silverdale, WA 98383 http://www.stillpointesanctuary.org; Dance Arts Theatre, P.O. Box 1205, Silverdale, WA 98383; or the American Working Collie Association, Collie Rescue Program at http://www.awca.net/rescue/index.htm.