Joseph R. Settelmayer

1929 - 2015

Joseph Richard Settelmayer (born May 24, 1929, in Cincinnati, Ohio), passed away on May 22, 2015, in the presence of loving family members. Joseph Richard was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. and longtime Whittier, CA, resident, physician and parishioner of St. Bruno Catholic Church.

He married Laura Ann Fitzgerald April 27, 1957, at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church in San Pedro, California, and fathered eight children: Joseph, Steve, Dan, Greg, Ann, John (deceased), Peter and Mary Rose.

Joseph Richard also is survived by sixteen grand children, two great grandchildren, and his wife, Mary Starr, whom he married in Glens Falls, New York, on March 8, 1997. The couple had survived their respective spouses, Laura Settelmayer and Stan Anderson. Joseph Richard is also survived by his brother Michael of Palatine, Illinois.

Joseph Richard practiced medicine for more than 35 years. From 1960 to 1996, he developed one of the largest pediatrics practices in the greater Whittier, California area--specializing in neonatology. Dr. Settelmayer served as Chief of staff at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, Whittier, and Director of the Hospital's Neonatal ICU for more than 20 years. In 1978 he became a member of the California Board of Medical Examiners. After serving many years on the associate faculty of the University of Southern California's School of Medicine, he was made Emeritus Clinical Professor of Pediatrics in February 1987. He was also a founding member of Bright Medical Group.

After his wife Laura passed away in 1992, Joseph Richard moved to Temecula, California. He was a founding parishioner of St. Catherine's of Alexandria, Temecula.

Joseph Richard was raised in the Midwest by parents of German descent—living in Iowa and suburbs of Chicago, as well as Cincinnati. His father was the organist for Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, Chicago. He attended Saint Procopius College (now "Illinois Benedictine University") in Lisle, Illinois. In 1955, he graduated from Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine.

In the summer of 1955, Joseph Richard moved to Los Angeles, California. He completed his internship at Los Angeles County General Hospital and in 1956 started his residency at the same hospital, where he became Chief Resident.

Dr. Settelmayer served in the Navy as a Lieutenant in the Medical Corps from 1958 to 1960.