IN MEMORIAM

from Central Coast Physicians Fall 2022

by Central Coast Medical Association

CENCAL HEALTH NEWS

WILLIAM F GEBHART, MD

1928-2022 Bill Gebhart, MD passed away on July 7, 2022, at home, with his wife Rosemarie at his side. He was 94 years old.

Bill joined Sansum Clinic on August 1, 1957, in the Internal Medicine Department. He went to the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and Cleveland Clinic. In the mid-1970s, he was one of the original members of the newly created Nephrology Department and was involved in dialysis treatment in Santa Barbara since its inception here. He was involved in the short-lived efforts at kidney transplants in Santa Barbara around that time as well. He was involved in Clinic leadership roles during his last few decades at The Clinic – he was here for more than 40 years – and was one of the instrumental players in the early 1970s in the creation of the then-novel 1206(l) Medical Foundation model in California.

Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic along with Palo Alto Medical Foundation Clinic and Gould Medical Foundation Clinic were the three original Medical Foundations in the State of California in the early 1970s. Dr. Gebhart and other visionaries at Santa Barbara Medical Clinic with their colleagues at the other two Clinics mentioned above were responsible for creating the legislation that created the 1206 (l) model that now cares for millions of California residents.

Bill remained a practicing internist/nephrologist until his retirement from the Clinic in 1999, 42 years and two months after he started. He was the Assistant Medical Director of the Clinic at the time of his retirement. He was very involved in quality initiatives and JAHCO accreditation at the time of his retirement and went on to work part time as a JAHCO surveyor after his retirement.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Rosemarie, and his two children, Judy and Cynthia, as well as his stepchildren, Nicole and Madaline, and two grandchildren.

Adapted from the Santa Barbara Independent

THOMAS G OCHSNER, MD

1936-2022 Thomas Ochsner, 86, passed peacefully on August 6, 2022, surrounded by his family in his home in Santa Barbara, California.

He was born to Dr. Clarence and Anita Ochsner on February 10, 1936, in Chicago, IL, the second of ten children. He grew up in Wabasha, MN where he attended St. Felix High School. He went on to medical school at the University of Minnesota where he met his wife Kathryn Nitzkowski. Graduating in 1961, he interned at Scripps Memorial Hospital in San Diego and completed his residency at Anchor Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota as a urologist.

Dr. Ochsner served three years in the Navy at Great Lakes Naval Base at the Naval Hospital in Chicago, IL during the height of the Viet Nam war. He earned the rank of Commander.

He moved his family to Santa Barbara, California in 1968 where he spent 61 years in private practice. He was not only known as a skilled surgeon, but more importantly, a kind and compassionate doctor. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from St. Francis Medical Center, was a board member of the St. Francis Foundation for over 30 years and was key to the success of the St. Francis Celebrity Golf Tournament.

Thomas was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather with a zest for life that was only outdone by his faith in God. Although, there were times when some of his golf buddies were sure he would have traded them both for an 8-foot birdie putt during one of his weekly rounds at La Cumbre Country Club. He treated everyone he met in life the same, with kindness and respect. He never talked bad of anyone nor ever utter a foul word (really, never!). His gentleness was surprisingly complimented by a strong determination that was not obvious on the surface. He will be greatly missed by many.

Thomas is survived by his wife, Kathryn (Kay); children, Kathryn, Elizabeth, Thomas, Jr., and Andrew; grandchildren, Katie, Amanda, Olivia, Alyx, Lauryn, Thomas, James, Natalie, Drew, Christopher, and Michael; and many greatgrandchildren.

Adapted from the Santa Barbara News-Press