Dan Austin Andrews M.D. M.D.

Dan Austin Andrews was born on February 27, 1943, to Jay and Betty Andrews in Morenci, Arizona. He spent his early years in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and New York before his family settled in Cheney, Washington. He graduated from Eastern Washington University and the University of Washington Medical School. It was during medical school that he met and married Susan Siegel. He interned in Michigan, did a family practice residency in Ventura, California and fulfilled his military obligation at Hill Air Force Base Hospital in Ogden, Utah.

In 1973 Dan and Sue moved to Arcata, California where he formed the Arcata Family Medical Group, which was much needed in a community short of doctors. In addition to doing general practice medicine, he delivered many babies, assisted in surgery, and worked in the emergency room. By 1975, the couple had welcomed three children. Douglas, Vinh and Thanh. Over a busy nineteen year period, Dan was also able to hunt and fish, build furniture and a playhouse, and use his talent as a baritone vocalist in the California Redwoods Chorale and the Humboldt Chorale. He began serious vegetable gardening and the kids remember sitting on the porch having to shell the peas he grew. Eventually three more children arrived: Bridget, Erin and Kathleen.

By 1992 Dan was ready to give up the long nights of delivering babies and accepted an offer at the University of Michigan Health Service, providing care to students, faculty, staff and their families. With his more reasonable work hours, he found more time for gardening, singing in the University of Michigan Choral Union and the Ann Arbor Cantata Singers. His daughters were involved in 4-H and the high school equestrian team, so he and Sue became "horse parents" for a few years. The first grandchildren began arriving, and there were more weddings, travels, and thoughts of retirement. In 2008 he officially retired from the University and began writing and later published his memoir Forty- Four Years on the Frontline of Medicine.

Dan and Sue chose Texas for their retirement as a place with warmer winters; their daughter Erin had already settled there. In 2011 they moved to Gatesville, Texas, and Dan joined the Coryell Art League and Morning Song, a small choral group. But the most significant community activity for both Dan and Sue was the Gatesville Boys and Girls Club where they helped kids with their homework, mentored them through personal difficulties, and taught some enrichment classes. Dan inspired kids with hands-on science activities like fossil hunts and building vegetable gardens on the Club's property. The kids loved Dan, and he was rewarded with their interest and affection.

By 2019 Dan and Sue were beginning to feel their age and two of their daughters were now living in Austin, so a move to Buda, in the Austin area, was in order. There Dan enjoyed getting together with his family, attending the grandchildren's sporting events and concerts, and entertaining out of town visitors. Their lives slowed down more as Dan began having a series of medical problems, which gradually overtook him. He died on July 29, 2025.

His memory lives on and is treasured by his wife of 59 years, Sue Andrews; his son, Douglas Andrews (Nadine); his daughters Thanh Andrews, Bridget Remish, Erin Andrews-Ash, and Kathleen Andrews; grandchildren Sage Grimm (Catlyn), Dan Eugene Andrews, John Remish, Oliver Remish, Gavin Andrews-Ash. Viktor Zalewski, Schuyler Andrews-Ash, Benjamin Andrews, Elizabeth McMasters, and Laina Andrews; and his brother Thomas Andrews (Connie Chiera).

Military honors will be given at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX.

His family suggests memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Gatesville Boys and Girls Club 2533 East Main, Gatesville, TX 76528.