John William Pace

JOHN WILLIAM PACE, M.D.

Dr. John Pace, retired neurosurgeon, passed away on Wednesday, September 14, 2005, at the age of 89. He was born on November 15, 1915, in Montpelier, ID to William Oliver Pace and Nelle Hartman Pace. John, better known as "Jack", was raised in Montpelier until age nine whereupon he, his younger brother Tom, and his parents moved to Salt Lake City, UT. A gifted student, Jack graduated at age 16 from West High School and enrolled at the University of Utah as a pre-med major. In 1939, he was admitted to the University of Chicago's Rush Medical School and, upon completion, began his medical internship at Latter Day Saints Hospital in Salt Lake City. Soon after, Jack married his college sweetheart, Catherine Benita Baldwin, also of Salt Lake City. His internship and early matrimony were interrupted by World War II. On July 1, 1942, Jack enlisted as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Medical Corp. Jack's Army service was distinguished for both his contributions as a care-giver (Acting Base Surgeon) and as a leader. He advanced in rank rapidly and, by 1945, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel while he was directing the Army's Air Evacuation Unit in Northern Europe. His efforts undoubtedly helped to alleviate the pain and suffering of thousands of U.S. troops throughout the European theater. Upon the completion of the war, Jack returned to his wife and son in Salt Lake City and concluded his medical internship at the Salt Lake City Clinic. Jack began a four year neurosurgical residency at the University of California, San Francisco in 1946. Having recognized a tremendous need and opportunity in the Central Valley, he and a colleague from UCSF moved to Fresno in 1950, and they became the first two neurosurgeons to establish practice in the area. Over the years, Jack and his partners built a successful surgical practice which attended to the needs of thousands of patients. Dr. Pace and his wife Catherine thrived in Fresno and by 1955 had their sixth child. In addition to his duties as a father, husband and surgeon, Jack became active in Fresno's community life, serving on a number of business and civic boards. Jack's personal interests included golf, bird hunting and reading. He was preceded in death by his brother Tom; his first wife Catherine; second wife Evelyn; and oldest son John Michael. Jack is survived by his daughters, Cathy Shaw and her husband Jim of Bakersfield, Carolee Wagner and her husband Jeff of Lafayette, CA and Marian Costa and her husband Raymond of Granite Bay, CA; his son, William Pace and his wife Betsy of Hillsborough, CA; and son, Thomas Pace of Seattle, WA. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. A Memorial Service and Remembrance will be held at Fresno's First Congregational Church, 2131 N. Van Ness, on Saturday, September 17, 2005, at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Nancy Hinds Hospice, 1616 W. Shaw, Suite C-1, Fresno, CA 93711 or the charity of your choice. STEPHENS & BEAN CHAPEL202 No. Teilman, Fresno (559) 268-9292Lic. #11