Dr. David Dietz

Dr. David M. Dietz died at home on April 10 of pancreatic cancer after a brave and patient journey, living each day with grace for fifteen months since his diagnosis, treasuring each moment.

Dave was born April 28, 1933 in Rochester, New York, and raised there by his parents Dr. Wallace and Doris Tierney Dietz. He was one of four children, having two brothers and a sister.

Dave graduated from Aquinas High School, the University of Rochester, and the University of Rochester Medical School. He completed his residency in general, thoracic and vascular surgery at Stanford University in California. After his Internship and two years of his surgical residency, Dr. Dietz interrupted his training to enlist as a Captain in the United States Air Force. He spent two years stationed at Itazuke Air Base in Japan. It was here that he met his future wife, Nan, who was an Air Force nurse. Their courtship was mostly long distance, as six months after meeting, Nan was re-assigned to Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona while Dave remained in Japan. After both were honorably discharged from the military, they were married in the small Catholic Church in Nan's hometown in Port Orford, Oregon. Following their wedding, they lived in Menlo Park, California, while Dr. Dietz finished his residency at Stanford. Their first two daughters were born at Stanford. A third daughter and a son were born in Anchorage.

In 1967, Dave packed his family into a camper trailer for the move to Alaska via a long side trip to his parent's home in New York. Arriving in Anchorage in August 1967, he began his surgical career with the Doctor's Clinic on L. Street. That Clinic evolved into the Alaska Clinic based at what is now Alaska Regional Hospital. During most of his ten years as a partner in the Alaska Clinic, he also served as Chief of Surgery in the hospital. In 1978, Dr. Dietz went into private practice and continued to be active at both Providence Hospital and Humana Hospital (now Alaska Regional Hospital). He had a very full and busy practice and was known in the community as a pioneering surgeon, always continuing his education and finding new and improved techniques for treating surgical patients. He retired from his medical practice in 1998, but after a couple of years of leisure he answered the call of his daughter, Joan Pellegrini, MD, to spend two weeks a month for a year as a trauma surgeon at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. Working side by side with his daughter was a very special time for him. He did this for two years.

Dave's personal life was every bit as important to him as his professional life. He especially enjoyed being outdoors, enjoying all the activities Alaska offers. If he wasn't hunting, flying, or fishing in Alaska, he was skiing in Colorado and Montana. Soon after arriving in Alaska, he and Nan each earned their Private Pilot's licenses and this opened up even more opportunities to enjoy Alaska's vast beauty. It was shortly after passing his check ride that the family purchased its first airplane, which provided many opportunities to explore, camp, hunt, and fish in the wilds of Alaska, always with his beloved dogs. In 1978 the family bought land on an island in Lake Clark and built a cabin. This small cabin was Dave's favorite place on earth and all of our summer vacations were spent there making wonderful memories. Dave passed on his love of the outdoors to his children, teaching them to hunt and fish, and he had them on skis barely after they began walking. Always practical minded, Dave sent each child off to college armed with a well-stocked tool box. But he also had a softer side. Dave was an avid music lover. From classical to John Denver, Gregorian chant to Celine Dion, he enjoyed his music to the end. Dave was a life-long Roman Catholic and has been an active member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church since 1968. He lived his faith daily and with dignity.

The family would like to thank Dr. Max Rabinowitz, Dr. Tom Kramer, and Dr. Steve Compton and their staffs and Providence Hospice for their excellent care and support.

Dave is survived by his wife of 49 years, Nan; daughter Joan Pellegrini, MD, daughter Susie Dietz, MD, son Capt. Michael Dietz; granddaughters Adriana, Amelia, Olivia, Grace, Audrey, and Madison; grandson Owen; sister Sheila O'Brien; brother Jack Dietz; son-in-law Tony Pellegrini, and daughter-in-law Michelle Dietz. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Bill Dietz, and his daughter Mary Louise Dietz.

A funeral Mass will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church on S. Klevin Street, Anchorage, followed by a reception in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers,the family suggests memorial donations to Saint Anthony's Catholic Church, Hope Cottages, or a charity of one's choice.