Dace B. Mitchell

Dace Bolyan Mitchell, M.D., a revered physician, dedicated educator, and beloved matriarch, passed away peacefully in her home at the age of 96, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy in medicine and an even greater one in the hearts of her family.

Born in a small farming village in Herzegovina, a province in the former Yugoslavia, Dace's early life took a transformative turn at the age of nine. In October 1937, she embarked on a journey to America, adopted by a paternal uncle who had immigrated years prior and his American wife. She arrived at the Statue of Liberty, and began a new chapter in Southeast Alaska Territory, specifically in the small mining camp of Cobol on Chichagof Island. Dace became a proud U.S. citizen in 1943.

Her education, though unconventional, was exceptional. She was homeschooled through correspondence courses from Calvert School for her elementary education, followed by high school studies from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Her remarkable intellect shone brightly when, at just 16, she entered the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, earning a B.S. in Science. She was then admitted to the College of Medicine in Omaha in 1949, graduating with her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree in 1953. In 1951, she married Robert A. Mitchell, a fellow medical student attending Creighton School of Medicine.

After completing two years of residency in the Department of Medicine in Lincoln, Dace and Robert moved to San Francisco in 1955. There, she became the first female Chief Resident at UCSF, a testament to her talent and dedication. She then joined the Department of Medicine as a full-time faculty member where she remained until her official retirement in 1999. Her academic career was profoundly impactful, marked by her unwavering commitment to teaching, patient care, and university service. Even after retiring, she continued to share her knowledge and passion as a volunteer faculty member. Dace received multiple Teaching Awards, was a distinguished member of the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honor medical society and the Gold Headed Cane Society, reflecting her significant contributions to the medical field. She was universally revered by her patients and medical students as a devoted, kind, and caring teacher and doctor, leaving an incredible legacy in medicine.

While her professional achievements were vast, Dace's overwhelming devotion was to her family. Her husband, four children, and six grandchildren were her world. She instilled the importance of family in her children and created wonderful traditions that continue to this day. Annually, the family gathers in Lake Tahoe, celebrating and creating cherished memories.

Dace was predeceased by her beloved husband, Robert (Bob). She is survived by her four children, Elizabeth Fortin (Don), Catherine Gallagher (Michael), Robert Mitchell, and Annie Mitchell (Joe Marcelle), and her six beautiful grandchildren: Alison, Timothy, William, Katherine, Isabella and Gianna.

Private services will be held at a later date.