James Spaulding

1925 - 2018

James Burton Spaulding M.D.

June 28, 1925 - Aug. 24, 2018

Born East Lansing, MI, and died peacefully at his Eichler home in Oakland, CA. Drafted by the Navy in 1943, and served as a radio tech at Treasure Island and in Washington DC maintaining code-breaking computers. Attended medical school in Ann Arbor, MI on the GI bill and returned to San Francisco for his internship.

After a whirlwind courtship married Gudrun (Mei Mei) Robinson in 1960 whom he met on a blind date in 1955. Employed at Army Induction Center but quit in the mid-1960's to avoid sending men to Vietnam. In 1965 completed psychiatric residency and began private practice in San Leandro. After retirement spent summers with Mei Mei in Deer Isle, Maine entertaining friends and family with lobster dinners.

Enjoyed photography, movies, wine, and good food. Disdained sports on TV, but was an avid fan of his three grandsons' Little League games and often attended with a thermos of Irish coffee in hand. Despite his varied accomplishments: attending medical school, serving on medical team at the Squaw Valley Olympics, working with groundbreaking family therapists, and becoming an early devotee of Transcendental Meditation, he affirmed that the best education he ever had was raising three daughters. Survived by his wife of 58 years, Mei Mei, and daughters Barbara (Mike Anglin), Diana (David Dodd), and Gwen (Josh Hebert), and six grandchildren, Mitchell, Wyatt, Rosemary, Alexander, Athena, and Eliza. Donations to Planned Parenthood. Memorial service Sunday, Oct. 21, 2 pm at Sequoia Lodge, 2666 Mountain Blvd., Oakland.