Jon Goerke

Dr. Rudolph Jonathan Goerke III, 94, longtime Mill Valley resident, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on July 8, 2023 from congestive heart failure and complications of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Jon was born on January 15, 1929 in Newark, New Jersey, the older of two children born to Rudolph (Dewey) Jonathan Goerke Jr. and Madelyne McBride Goerke. He was preceded in death by his sister Madelyne Spence and three of her five children: Whitney, John and Christopher Coppersmith. Jon received an undergraduate degree in physics from California Institute of Technology and a medical degree from Yale University. He returned to California for a residency in cardiology at the University of California at San Francisco, but ultimately discovered his true passion in UCSF's Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), which later became the preeminent lung research institute in the world. In addition to conducting research in physiology of lung diseases and publishing numerous papers on his group's work, Jon taught for many years at USCF Medical School, where he was reportedly known by his students for delivering "passionate, clear, and engaging presentations," and he was the first author (along with Allan H. Mines, M.D.) of the textbook Cardiovascular Physiology. Jon also enjoyed helping influence future generations of doctors by participating on the school's admissions committee. An incurable punster, Jon made many lifelong friends as he engaged wholeheartedly over the years in passions that ranged from cartooning in college to fly fishing, folk and swing dancing, cycling (completing "centuries" into his seventies), birding on multiple continents, barbershop and choral singing, and nonfiction readingboth on his own and with his favorite book group. Jon pursued as many of these activities as he could into his nineties. Jon is survived by his loving wife Betty, author and retired College of Marin anthropology and archaeology professor, children Jon and Katharine (Katie) Goerke and Robin Heard, nephew William Coppersmith, niece Dana Coppersmith and wife Sue Giuffre, and grandnieces Emily and Sarah Giuffre-Coppersmith.Memorial Service: Sunday, August 20th, 2:00 5:00, at the Mill Valley Outdoor Art Club. All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to the American Friends Service Committee: https://secure.afsc.org/RJN66m35E2pe0MHawoYqw2?ms=WEB23NV