John David Bernard MD

John David Bernard, MD

Jan. 11, 1932 - Nov. 29, 2017

On November 29, John David Bernard, M.D. died in Stockton. He was 85 years old. Dave was born in Sioux City, Iowa on Jan. 11, 1932 to Mabel and John Bernard. He grew up with his two brothers (George Thomas and Robert Henry) and sister Mary Lucinda on a South Dakota farm just outside Elk Point. He was educated there and entered the University of South Dakota at Vermilion in 1950 where he did his pre-medical work by a two-year curriculum for medical students. After this, he transferred to the University of California at San Francisco where he completed the last two years of his medical school education. During this time, he met the one love of his life, Anna. They married in November 1956. After graduating from UC in 1957, the two moved to French Camp where Dave was an intern at San Joaquin General Hospital. In 1958, they moved to Germany for 3 years where he served as a captain in the US Army. They then returned with two children (David Josef and Anne Theresa) to the San Joaquin General Hospital where he completed his Internal Medicine residency. Following this, they returned to San Francisco where he completed a fellowship in Endocrinology with additional training in Nuclear Medicine. The family returned to Stockton in 1965 where Dave practiced Endocrinology and Nuclear Medicine and was Director of Medical Education at San Joaquin General Hospital for 8 years. Their third child (Mark Steven) was born in 1966. He then served for 25 years as Director of Medical Education at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton, all in all spending some 40 years in medical education in the Stockton community. He was elected to the American College of Physicians and was also a fellow of the American College of Endocrinology. He retired in 1998 to enjoy fly fishing, tennis, and golf until bodily limitations brought him to the books he had always loved. Behind all of his success was always the love and support of his wife, Anna. On November 22, Dave and Anna celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. He will be greatly missed by his wife Anna, daughter Anne, sons Mark and David, seven grandchildren, his surviving sister Mary, extended family, and many friends. Dave was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, physician, mentor, and friend.

A Catholic Mass to Celebrate his Life will be held at St. Bernadette's Church in Stockton on Thursday, December 7 at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Mary's Dining Room, 545 W. Sonora St., Stockton, CA 95203 or Hospice of San Joaquin, 3888 Pacific Ave, Stockton CA 95204