John Paul Phillips M.D.

1932 - 2021

John Paul Phillips, M.D.

Lake Tahoe - Born Danville, Arkansas 1932, to Brewer and Wave Page Phillips

Corral de Tierra, Salinas, California 1962-2012

Tahoe Vista, Lake Tahoe, California 2013-2021

John Paul Phillips peacefully passed away March 11th after 88 remarkable years. He was surrounded by loving family, and retained his exceptional poise and grace throughout his final days.

John took great pride in his Danville & Dumas, Arkansas roots, where he was raised by his loving parents. Excelling in school, and on the football field as 'Stone Wall,' he eventually came to embrace the medical field. John majored in Botany at Hendrix College ('53), attended the University of Tennessee Medical School ('56), then completed a top neurosurgery residency at UT Memphis. He became an acclaimed neurosurgeon, garnering numerous honors while solving complicated challenges to help patients, even earning the front page of the paper after a ground-breaking surgery.

Universally admired as a gentle, caring physician, John was truly beloved by patients, his devoted office staff, colleagues, and friends. He served as Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital's Chief of Staff, and led the rapidly growing Salinas Valley Neurological Associates with trademark elegance and grace. Teaching as a faculty member at both UC San Francisco and Stanford University's neurosurgery programs, he mentored the next generation of neurosurgeons on unusual, challenging cases. Doctor John was a favorite surgeon in the operating room where his relaxed and easy going manner put the OR nurses and entire surgical team at ease. While John said neurosurgery could be 99% boredom with 1% sheer terror, we all knew better; as surgery nurses always said, "No one ever saw John Phillips sweat. Ever." More importantly, his children regularly witnessed his acts of quiet, thoughtful kindness and generosity. His staff said he "definitely spoiled" them and they could never imagine working for another person. John's retirement from private practice generated an outpouring of affection from every corner of the community.

John remained a devoted, loving husband to June Dunbar, M.D. for 57 years. "I may have style, but she has all the class," he would say. His charm and warmth shined brightest around her. Always a proud father, he never raised his voice, and remained quick to offer his quiet loving assurance and support, allowing his boys to flourish. Meanwhile, John found time to get outside with June and the boys—regularly sailing, swimming almost every day, and creating family hiking adventures. As an avid reader, John instilled a similar love of discovery in his boys. The boys were glad he retained his love of botany, for when he was not tending to his rare and beautiful orchids in the greenhouse that he built, there was a cacophony of classical music throughout the house.

June and John's transcendent medical careers were punctuated by many travels with their three boys, including numerous adventures to June's native Alaska, Western Europe, the Big Island of Hawaii, and plenty of time in Lake Tahoe both in the summer and winter. John often allowed the boys' childhood friends to tag along on these adventures, creating lifelong memories for all. Family adventures included backpacking above the Arctic Circle in the Brooks Range, Alaska, and around the Sierra Nevada in California, river rafting the Yukon in Canada, and eventually adventures on six continents! As the decades passed, John traveled the world with June, gaining an appreciation of numerous cultures. His favorites included Baden-Baden, Germany, the Kohala Coast of Hawaii, Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, the country of Bhutan, and South Africa for a safari. John appreciated world class cooking and he should have been a wine judge (ask the sommeliers who waxed poetic on fine wine with him). And like one of his favorite spies, he never turned down a good martini, probably with several of you reading this.

During his later travels, John became increasingly gregarious, connecting so well with so many. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren—he was so proud of them. He also began serving others in new ways. For one, John channeled expertise from his youth, as a performing pianist, joining his fellow classical music lovers and serving for many years on the Carmel Bach Festival Board. After moving to Lake Tahoe, he enjoyed time with his wonderful friends at the Tahoe Yacht Club, participating in various events on the lake. Finally, he shared his love of boating with friends and family, traversing Lake Tahoe on his Cal 27 sailboat and Donzi speed boat.

In addition to his daily generosity with family, friends, and acquaintances, John donated to more than 50 organizations, particularly the Community Foundation of Monterey County, various symphonies, and to his beloved alma mater, Hendrix College, where he will be interred in the Garden of Memories next to Green Chapel. An online memorial is scheduled for April 18th and an in-person service is pending.

As one of his staff wrote, "Thanks again, Dr. Phillips, for all of your kindness, consideration, and friendship over the years. You deserve the very best." We all agree--you deserve the best, John, Dad. You made the world a better place. We will deeply miss you. All our love,

June

Tim and wife Amy, Tyler and wife Theresa (children)

Emily, Luke, Loren, John Henry, Caroline, Elena, and William (grandchildren)

John was preceded in death by his eldest son, Todd

He is survived by his brother, William Phillips, Memphis, TN.

Correspondence may be sent to June Phillips:

PO Box 379, Tahoe Vista, CA 96148 (postal), or

6480 North Lake Blvd, Tahoe Vista, CA 96148 (physical address)

junejohntahoe@aol.com