Dr. Gary K. Hargrove

1940 - 2022

On December 1, 2022, Dr. Gary K. Hargrove succumbed to Stage IV lung cancer, a diagnosis he was given just eight months prior. He inspired family, friends and caretakers with his faith, courage, and sense of humor until the very end. Gary was born in 1940 in Berkeley, CA to the late Dr. G. Kenneth Hargrove and Jean Gray Hargrove both graduates of UC Berkeley. He attended public schools in Berkeley, obtained his undergraduate degree at Stanford University, his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of California San Francisco in 1966, and his specialty residency in urology at University of California College of Medicine in Irvine, CA, and a fellowship with the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Hargrove practiced medicine in Berkeley for several years before being called up from reservist to active duty with the United States Air Force during Operation Desert Shield. His service as a urologist at Travis Air Force Base excited him, motivating him to continue military practice where he enjoyed the collegial settings and scope of medical opportunities. He and the love of his life, Jane relished the new experiences and travel that his military career afforded. They worked together as a team to fill this period of their lives with deeply enriching adventures. From Travis AFB to Elmendorf AFB in Alaska to RAF Lakenheath in England to Scott AFB in Illinois followed by a smattering of assignments in Germany, Italy, and Turkey, they saw, experienced and learned so much together. While in England Gary achieved the rank of full colonel. He retired from active military service in 2005. Gary and Jane still had the travel bug so far the next ten years Gary chose locum tenens positions throughout the United States, including Maui. Wherever they landed, Gary immersed himself into the area, taking advantage of all it had to offer. In Alaska, he hiked, fished (not too successfully), cross-country skied, ice skated on frozen ponds, joined Sons of Norway Lodge, took a "polar plunge" into the freezing shore of Barrow, Alaska challenging a young F-16 pilot by jumping in first. Gary was a natural when it came to striking up interesting conversations with complete strangers. He looked for finding a common ground with people, and sharing humorous anecdotes. His stories, jokes and puns became legendary. He was an avid golfer, a seriously competitive bridge player racking up over 1000 points in the ACBL. After retirement he took up bicycling on organized long distance rides that included cycling across Iowa with Ragbrai four summers. Before passing to the next life, Gary affirmed that he was at peace and felt that God was calling him home. His survivors include his wife Jane Mattson Hargrove, his adult children Victoria Hargrove, Geoffrey Hargrove, Benjamin Hargrove and wife Babette, his stepdaughters Kim Flom and husband Jay, and Denise Siri, his grandchildren Kenneth Agardi, Eva Agardi, Jason Flom and wife Hayley, Justin Flom and fianc‚ Hailey, Stephen Siri and wife Annabel, Jane Siri Kadash and husband William, and one great granddaughter Sadie Jo Flom. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church sometime in 2023. Burial will be at Fort Snelling Military Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.