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Donald St. Claire Obituary
St. Claire
January 10, 1935 - August 31, 2022
On August 31, 2022, Donald Anthony St. Claire, a renowned doctor, loving husband and father, and true renaissance man, passed away in Angels Camp at the age of 87.
Don was born on January 10, 1935, in Oakland, California to Claudia and Tony St. Claire. He cherished his summers spent hunting and fishing on the family ranch in Idaho and was an early prodigy on the piano. A graduate of Stanford University and Hahnemann Medical School, he was on the clinical faculty of Stanford University and practiced internal medicine in Palo Alto and Portola Valley for over 40 years.
Legendary for his bedside manner and diagnostic acumen, Don had a passion for medicine and helping others. Lovingly known as "The Kahuna," he was equally committed to living his life to the fullest, cherishing time with his family while traveling the world and pursuing an assortment of hobbies with an impressive level of commitment. Depending on the day, Don could be found skiing; fly-fishing; working on his Model A or a carpentry project; playing the piano, accordion, or banjo; horseback riding; exploring a foreign locale; or winning the International Wine Maker of the Year award. He was a true animal lover who adored his dogs, and a loving father who didn't hesitate to end work early on Fridays to pull his kids from school for trips to Tahoe. He touched everyone who came into his path.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jean St. Claire; children Valeri Andres; Donald St. Claire, Jr.; Gregory St. Claire; and Jeffrey St. Claire; stepchildren Michael Henningsen and Christa Flores; sixteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He also leaves behind his legendary sheepskin coat which will be vigorously fought over by his surviving children.
Memorial services are pending; donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Donald St. Claire
3 Entries
Hamish J. Dunn
October 2, 2023
Late to this party. One of the things I share, assuming the Dr. I am currently seeing is open & engaged, is to reference what Don told me in his office in Portola. "Nothing is more important than the history (taking) of your patient. And if the wife is in there as well, all the better, they will gently contradict something the patient might not share". or something to that effect. Either way, one of the kindest and more generous men I have had the pleasure to spend time with, in my life.
Jean Tiscornia
March 4, 2023
Dear Don,
We were first introduced through Williams and Burrows and Bob and I became your patient s in PortolaValley. So you were not only our doctor but became one of our best friends as time went on we found we had a mutual acquaintance the cole family and Dan Cole proposed to my daughter Tammy. Greg and Dan are longtime friends which united our whole family together. You were always such a delight to be around warm kind and very funny. We were both the same age so had a lot of common pains and aches which you would always relayed to me.
What a wonderful father and friend you´ve always been you are so missed and I know Bob was so happy to see you when you joined him in heaven
You are a true gentleman and one of a kind you are so loved by your family and friends and we all miss you so very much till we meet again dear friend peace be with you
Love to all your Dear family
Jean Tiscornia
parker odell
November 16, 2022
loved don and his wife on amazing race 6.
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