Adelito M. Gale, M.D.

Dr. Gale loved life. His passions were his family, his work as a physician and his faith. He leaves behind his wife Ann of 48 years; their six children, Mary Ann, Amy, Marsha, Arick, Jonathan and Nicholas; ten grandchildren; and six sons and daughters- in-law. He played a large part in each of our lives and we will all miss him greatly.
Dr. Gale was born October 30, 1933, in the Philippines, the eldest son of Ricarda Molina and Anastacio Gale and loving brother of six siblings. He immigrated to the States in 1956, leaving his hometown of Bolinao, Pangasinan.
A top priority for raising his children was education. He was elected to the Poway Unified School District Board for 10 years and personally handed his children their High School Diplomas. He would be overjoyed to tell you that all of his children have their Bachelor's Degrees, three have Masters Degrees, and one has a Doctor of Osteopathy. He was a hands-on Dad despite his busy schedule as a surgeon. He would often be called in to perform emergency surgery all night long, but he would never miss his children's events.
He had a great sense of humor and liked to tell jokes. He could also whistle any tune and was a great dancer. If a band was playing, he and Ann would dance the night away. He also loved to travel and visited destinations all over the world.
He was a brilliant surgeon who saved countless lives. He was in Private Practice of Thoracic-cardiovascular Surgery in the North County area of San Diego from l971-2004. He was the first Thoracic-cardiovascular surgeon on staff at Palomar Medical Center and the first Chief of Surgery at Pomerado Hospital. He was a member of a Cardiac Transplant Team at Saint Vincent Hospital in Los Angeles, CA, in the early 90s and became a heart transplant recipient himself at UCSD on Friday, October 13, l995.
Dr. Gale has lived in Rancho Bernardo since 1971. He and two other doctors founded the Samahan Health Clinic in l972 to provide free medical needs to the elderly, low income, and the uninsured in the community. He served on the Health Advisory Board of San Diego County and the Health System Advisory Board of San Diego and Imperial Counties. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus of St. Michael's Church.
Dr. Gale passed away on October 18, 2011, surrounded by his wife and six children. He died of complications due to kidney failure.
Services for Dr. Gale are as follows: Viewing will be at Poway-Bernardo Mortuary Thursday, October 27, 2011, from 4-8pm; Funeral services will be at St. Michael's Church in Poway on Friday, October 28, 2011, at 11am. Interment immediately following at Dearborn Cemetery in Poway with a reception to follow at San Rafael Catholic Church Parish Hall, Rancho Bernardo.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Operation Samahan: http://bettergivingsd.guidestar.org/NonprofitProfile.aspx?OrgId=35808.