Dr. Donald Errante

Dr. Donald Errante

Calmly and peacefully passed away at home on March 31, 2016. Born on July 19, 1935 in Brooklyn, and a Marin resident for 50 years, Don was a devoted husband, father, physician, and friend to the many people with whom he came in contact.
Don entered Wesleyan University at the tender age of 16. A life-long lover of music, he relieved the stress of a demanding pre-med program by joining the marching band where his vigorous enthusiasm resulted in his breaking the bass drum he was playing. He was, despite this indiscretion, awarded a degree. Don's medical training was at the University of Rochester, followed by internship and residency in the Bronx where he developed his specialty in pediatrics. His military service followed beginning in 1963. Stationed in Livorno, Italy, Don was the only pediatrician at the sprawling military base, caring for more than 1,000 children. While in Italy, Don reveled in his Italian heritage, studying the language and refining his grandmother's inspired love for fine Italian cuisine. It was also in Italy that his life-long love of fast cars was nurtured.
In 1965 Don completed his military service and returned to the Bronx (Albert Einstein-Jacobi Medical Center) to undertake a one-year fellowship in psychiatry for pediatricians before moving to Mill Valley with his first wife, Eleanor and the first two of his three children (Valaine and Arien). Their third child (Elida) was born after they settled in California. The Errante family readily took to their new life and it was in Marin that Don began what became a treasured leisure activity of cycling. Soon Don and his cycling friends were exploring the area, including riding 100 and at one point, 200 miles in a day.
From 1966-1974 Don served as the principal pediatrician with a multidisciplinary team for a federally funded project for children and youth based at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco. In 1974 he joined what was then the original Marin County Pediatric practice of Dr. William Ball that included Dr. Stephen Kent and later Dr. George Monteverdi. Don was a consummate physician, and was concerned with treating the entire patient; body, mind, and spirit. Believing in the importance of psychological as well as physical health, Don developed a subspecialty and opened a behavioral and developmental private pediatric practice. Don was an uncommonly generous and caring person who was utterly devoted to his patients.
In 1985, Don married his second wife Lois and settled into life in Larkspur. Travel was of great interest to the couple, and their life was filled with many exotic adventures including numerous visits throughout Europe, trips to India, Peru, and a cycling tour of Vietnam. Also, a lover of music of all styles, Don, who played piano in his younger years, was a long-time subscriber to the San Francisco opera.
Don lived with Parkinson's disease for many years. Rather than succumbing, he became active in the Parkinson's community and made many new friends. He was especially active in the PD Dance movement and continued his cycling as long as possible. Don is survived by his wife Lois, his children Valaine, Arien, and Elida, stepchildren Glenn and Dan Young, grandchildren, Scott Young, Mitchell Young, and Allison, his brother Gerard, and his former wife Eleanor. A memorial service is being planned for Donald at the St. Vincent's School for Boys in San Rafael on Saturday, May 7, at 2:30.
This is an especially fitting setting as it was at the St. Vincent's School for Boys that Don spent 30 years caring for the boys there, following his life-long penchant for aiding those in less fortunate circumstances.
Don will be long remembered for the many lives he touched by his generosity, compassion, adventurous spirit, intellectual curiosity and infectious sense of humor. A memorial donation may be made in Don's name to the Parkinson's Dance Program (checks made out to Marin Dance Theater with PDP in the memo line).