Dr. Peter G. Gaal

1930 - 2012

Much-loved Cardiovascular Surgeon, Peter George Gaal, M.D., left his body on Jan. 23, 2012, at 10:24 p.m. He died peacefully with his wife, Sandy, and daughter, Becky, at his bedside where they remained for two hours singing to him, praying, guiding his soul onwards, talking about him and crying.

With great inner strength and superb care and support from physicians, family, friends, and the staff of Community Memorial Hospital, Peter lived with Heart Disease for nine years, Renal Failure (on Dialysis for one year) and Multiple Myeloma. He died of septic shock. He was 81 years old.

Peter will be remembered for his exceptional kindness, dedication to his patients, his surgical skill, brilliant mind, gentle, loving ways, and his love of family and humanity. He was also a great storyteller, captivating all involved.

Peter Gaal was born in Chicago, Ill., on July 24, 1930, to parents, George Gaal, M.D. and Ethel Friedman Gaal, M.D. He graduated from University of Chicago (with honors in Surgery) in 1954. He did his internship at University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, from 1954-1955 and his surgical residency at University of California Medical Center, Los Angeles, from 1957-1962. He remained at UCLA as full-time faculty in General and Thoracic Surgery as Assistant Professor of Surgery 1962-1965 and Clinical Faculty as Assistant Clinical Professor in Thoracic Surgery 1965-1989. Dr. Gaal was a Fellow, American College of Surgeons.

He was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Medical Fraternity, California Medical Association and Ventura County Medical Association. He served as former Commissioner, Medical Board of California from 1979-1995. After finishing his residency at UCLA he joined Dr. Rodney Smith at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica. Together they were early pioneers in Cardiovascular Surgery. His years at St. Johns were very fulfilling and he remembers them and his colleagues very fondly. That was also where he met his wife, Sandy. They worked together in ICU. They were married in June 1979, barefoot on the beach in Malibu. They have one daughter. Previously married to Aileen Glassoff for 25 years, they had four children.

Dr. Gaal served in the Navy as Lieutenant, USNR, Medical Corps, active duty 1955-1957 and Lt. Commander, USNR-R 1957-1964. Peter moved to Ventura in June of 1983 to join Dr. Howard Braitman in practice. After Dr. Braitman's death, Drs. Dominic Tedesco and Lamar Bushnell joined him in practice. He primarily practiced at Community Memorial Hospital, and also practiced and taught at Ventura County Medical Center. At CMH he served as Chief of Staff, Member, Board of Trustees 1995-2002, and Inpatient Medical Director from 2005 until he became too ill in 2010.

He retired from active surgical practice in January of 2010 at the age of 79 and a half. He loved practicing here, the people he worked with and this community. For the last three decades of his career, he lent his keen mind and depth of medical knowledge to reviewing legal cases as an expert witness. He loved solving these mysteries and helping to bring closure to those involved. His hobbies and interests were his family, astronomy, his train garden, canning berry jam from our blackberries, and carpentry. He has a great love of animals (especially dogs) and nature.

He is survived by his wife of 32 and half years, Sandy; his children, Eric Gaal of Berkeley, Calif., Linda Gaal of Brooklyn, N.Y., Ronald Gaal and wife Penny Peak of Berkeley, Calif., Jennifer Gaal Sampson and husband Russel of Palo Alto, Calif., and Rebecca Gaal of Santa Paula, Calif.; and grandchildren, Gabriel and Isaiah Back-Gaal, Elijah and Sophia Gaal, and Benjamin, Joshua, Mollie and Erin Sampson.

Peter Gaal touched the hearts of all who knew him. He made this world a better place and will be dearly missed.

A private memorial service will be held at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Gaal for family and close friends. A public and hospital staff memorial service will be held at Community Memorial Hospital at 12 noon on Wednesday, Feb. 15, in the auditorium.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Peter Gaal Memorial Fund at Community Memorial Hospital, attention: Mike Ellingson. The fund will be used to establish and maintain a visiting therapy dog program for patients and hospital staff.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home and Crematory, 3150 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura. Condolences may be left at TedMayrFuneralHome.com.