Donley Gordon McReynolds M.D.

On May 30, 2024, Donley passed away at his home in Solana Beach following a nine year struggle with Parkinson's disease. Maureen, his wife of 43 years, was by his side.Donley had had an amazing life. Born in a farmhouse in Pinedale, Wyoming, his parents ran the Pinedale Roundup, the town's weekly newspaper. It would be a family endeavor as Donley and his brother Max helped out by handsetting the type, printing and then delivering the papers by bicycle. The boys learned to hunt and fish at an early age, too, not for sport, but out of necessity. Donley's first taste of beef was not until he went away to college! Donley got a scholarship to the University of Rochester ( NY ) where he went into pre-med followed by a two year surgical residency at Strong Memorial Hospital. He served two years in the USAF, stationed at Wright - Patterson AFB in 1968, and then Cape Canaveral, working as one of Capt. James Lovell's surgical doctors on Apollo 13.In 1970, Donley moved to La Jolla. He partnered with Dr. Richard Jones at Scripps Memorial Hospital. They soon joined Dr. David H Baker and Dr. Brent Eastman to form North Coast Surgeons Medical Group with Drs. Dana Launer, Marc Sedwitz and Mary Wilde completing the group. They worked to develop the countywide Trauma System in San Diego which became the model for similar systems across the country. Aside from surgery, Donley loved sharing jokes with the doctors in the doctor's lounge.He loved running marathons, fishing in Cabo, playing tennis, and was a season ticket holder for the Padres and the Chargers. As busy as he was, he did his best to get to his kids' soccer, Little League and volleyball games even when they were far away on the East Coast. He proudly walked two daughters down the aisle but heartbreakingly had to witness the third pass from breast cancer way before her time. He loved to dress up like Santa on Xmas Eve for the grandchildren, play piano in quieter times and occasionally the old saxophone from his high school days.Donley leaves behind two daughters: Jennifer Billard ( Los Angeles) and Tracy Clune (Chula Vista); two sons: Ryan ( Missoula, MT) and Mark McReynolds ( San Jose, Ca); and four grandchildren. Also ex-wife Judy McReynolds (San Diego).The family would especially like to acknowledge Jennifer Jordan (caregiver) and Ben Longstreet (speech pathologist) for their skilled care and endless support over the past increasingly difficult years. Donley's ashes will be scattered around his favorite (secret) fishing hole in the Wind River Mountains just north of his birth place. A Celebration of Life will be held at The Powerhouse Community Center, 1658 Coast Blvd, Del Mar Sunday Sept 8, 2024 from 4-8 pm.