Frederic Shidler M.D.

SHIDLER, MD, Frederic -- died Sunday evening, October 26, 2003 from natural causes. He was 90 years old. Dr. Shidler is survived by his wife Karin Shidler, his three children, Peter, Jon and Ann, his two granddaughters, Morgan and Whitney Shidler and his stepson Clark Woolston. Dr. Shidler was born in York, Nebraska in 1913 and he moved with his family to Torrance, CA in 1921. During his youth he pursued his interest in classical music and became an accomplished pianist. He attended Stanford University and received both a Bachelor of Science degree (1937) and a Doctor of Medicine (general surgery, 1941). During WWII Dr. Shidler served in the Pacific Theater as a Chief Medical Officer on a destroyer and hospital transport ships. His hospital ship was stationed off Guam when the Marines hit the beaches with 70% to 80% casualties. Taking only a few hours to sleep, he operated for 50 hours and saved the lives of 28 Marines. A year later he was on a destroyer performing surgery when the ship was hit by a kamikaze. Dr. Shidler and a nurse ignored the order to abandon ship, completed the operation by flash light and carried the sailor to safety. He was awarded the Bronze Medal for bravery under attack. Also, while in the South Pacific, he met Catherine Clegg who was working with the Red Cross. After the War, Fred and Catherine were married in Torrance, CA in 1945. The newly weds moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and in 1947, Dr. Shidler co-founded the Menlo Medical Clinic in Menlo Park. During the next 35 years he became one of the most respected general surgeons in the Bay Area. He was a Board Certified Member and past president of the prestigious Pacific Coast Surgical Society. While building his medical practice and raising his family, he found time to pursue three additional passions. One of these was black and white photography. He trained under Ansel Adams for 15 years, often traveling to Ansel's home in Carmel to have the Master critique his work. Some of Dr. Shidler's photographs have appeared in "The Beautiful Southwest" published by the Lane Publishing Co. His work has also been exhibited at Stanford University, Telluride, Colorado, Palo Alto and Menlo Park. His other passions were golf and skiing. Fred was to a 10 handicap and enjoyed playing courses all over the world. He particularly liked the ambience of playing golf in Scotland. At age 46 in Zermat, Switzerland he took his first ski lesson. He was hooked and he never missed a season until he blew out a knee skiing moguls in Taos, New Mexico at the age of 83. Throughout his adult life Dr. Shidler was always actively involved with the Episcopal Church. His involvement included 35 years with St. Bedes in Menlo Park and almost 20 years with St. Patrick's in Kenwood. Dr. Shidler retired in 1979 and he and Catherine moved to the Oakmont retirement community in Santa Rosa to be close to their grandchildren; Whitney and Morgan. Catherine died in 1995. He remained in Oakmont where he met Karin Woolston, another Stanford graduate. Karin and Fred were married in 1998. The couple did quite a bit traveling and enjoyed several wonderful years together. Friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life memorial service at 2:00 p.m. on Sat., Dec. 6, 2003 at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, 9000 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, CA. If desired donations in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Assn. North Bay Chapter, 1211 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401. LAFFERTY & SMITH COLONIAL CHAPEL.