Richard Bohannon

1932 - 2020

Richard A. Bohannon
Aug. 18, 1932-Oct. 20, 2020
Dr. Richard A. Bohannon passed away after a brief illness October 20, 2020, with his wife of 46 years, Nancy, and youngest son, Robert, by his side.
He is survived by his wife and four children, Sarah Lane (Dennis), Richard (Laura), Jim (Tamara), and Robert (Heather). He had 10 grandchildren and many close relatives throughout the country.
Richard, born in Westfield, New Jersey, to Helen and William Bohannon, was the third of five children. He graduated from Harvard University in 1954 and Washington University (St. Louis) School of Medicine in 1958. Following a fellowship in hematology at McGill University in Montreal, and a fellowship in oncology at Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York, he served as an Army Captain in the medical corps at the Presidio in San Francisco.
He moved to Thousand Oaks in 2018 after residing in San Francisco for 55 years. He was a hematologist/oncologist beloved by hundreds of patients and colleagues, who admired his kind, caring and professional nature. During his career, he was among the first physicians to use bone marrow from twins to treat and cure a leukemia patient. He served on many boards and was president of several organizations, including the American Cancer Society, California Division and St. Luke's Foundation.
Richard, known as Dick, was a man of many interests. He was always learning, even taking Spanish, Pilates and piano lessons into his 80s. Those who knew him would often refer to him as the smartest man they knew. He confidently engaged in conversations about politics, investments, religion, sports and family.
He and Nancy loved to travel, exploring numerous countries. An Alaskan cruise to celebrate his 75th birthday will forever be remembered by the 17 family members aboard the ship. Dick was an accomplished pianist who frequently attended the San Francisco Symphony and even recorded a compact disc at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He served as the first Working Chair of Music in Schools Today. He loved to read, appreciated art and theater, collected coins, played golf (recording his only hole-in-one at age 83) and followed sports. He enjoyed great food and a fine red wine. He wrote a cookbook and a sequel. Dick was a philanthropist who generously donated time and money to countless nonprofit organizations.
A man of great faith, Dick attended St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Thousand Oaks after many years as a member at St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church in San Francisco, singing in the choir at the former.
A memorial service is planned at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco for February 3 at 2 PM followed by a reception at the Presidio Golf and Concordia club. All attendees must register at https://funeralrichardabohannon.eventbrite.com in order to expedite entry. Last minute attendees may be admitted with proof of vaccination but that is not recommended.
Please consider donating to one of Dick's favorite charities, including Music in Schools Today (582 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104), the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (50 Oak Street, San Francisco, CA 94102), or the Goebel Center Senior Nutrition Program at Conejo Parks and Recreation Department (1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91362).