Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
BORN
1925
DIED
2018
James Spaulding Obituary
June 28, 1925 - Aug. 24, 2018
Born East Lansing, MI, and died peacefully at his Eichler home in Oakland, CA. Drafted by the Navy in 1943, and served as a radio tech at Treasure Island and in Washington DC maintaining code-breaking computers. Attended medical school in Ann Arbor, MI on the GI bill and returned to San Francisco for his internship.After a whirlwind courtship married Gudrun (Mei Mei) Robinson in 1960 whom he met on a blind date in 1955. Employed at Army Induction Center but quit in the mid-1960's to avoid sending men to Vietnam. In 1965 completed psychiatric residency and began private practice in San Leandro. After retirement spent summers with Mei Mei in Deer Isle, Maine entertaining friends and family with lobster dinners.
Enjoyed photography, movies, wine, and good food. Disdained sports on TV, but was an avid fan of his three grandsons' Little League games and often attended with a thermos of Irish coffee in hand. Despite his varied accomplishments: attending medical school, serving on medical team at the Squaw Valley Olympics, working with groundbreaking family therapists, and becoming an early devotee of Transcendental Meditation, he affirmed that the best education he ever had was raising three daughters. Survived by his wife of 58 years, Mei Mei, and daughters Barbara (Mike Anglin), Diana (David Dodd), and Gwen (Josh Hebert), and six grandchildren, Mitchell, Wyatt, Rosemary, Alexander, Athena, and Eliza. Donations to Planned Parenthood. Memorial service Sunday, Oct. 21, 2 pm at Sequoia Lodge, 2666 Mountain Blvd., Oakland.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for James Spaulding
2 Entries
October 16, 2018
In 1967 in a San Francisco Army recruiting office my husband was in front of an MD who asked is there any reason you feel you are not able to serve? My husband said he contacted malaria while serving two years in Kenya as a Peace Corp volunteer and continued with symptoms periodically. This doctor took out a stamp from a bottom draw stamped all his papers as medically unfit for service. This may or may not have been Dr. James Burton Spaulding M.D. but we want to send how grateful we are to doctors such as he who took a stance to protect young men from that terrible fate. As a result we both were able to continue our protest of Vietnam war, earn PHd's, raise a family and work to contribute to our society. Our deep condolences and admiration for a life well lived. Jon Sutinen PhD & Elena Gonzales PhD
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results
Make a Donation
in James Spaulding's name
Memorial Events
for James Spaulding
How to support James's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor James Spaulding's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
