Patrick Pat Donlon died peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends on the evening of Tuesday, May 27th. Cause of death was Mesothelioma cancer, which was first diagnosed in October, 2007.
He was raised in Elkader, Iowa, a small farming community in northeast Iowa. He was a fourth generation Iowan of Irish-German heritage, who always felt that he had a wonderful childhood growing up in Iowa.
After graduating from high school in 1955, he served in the U.S. Navy until 1958. He earned an M.D from the University of Iowa in 1965. Upon finishing his medical internship at the Santa Clara County Hospital in San Jos CA, he completed a psychiatric residency at the Lafayette Clinic of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
In 1970 he, his wife Patti, and son, San, moved to Davis when he joined the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California Davis and became a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry. He then founded Psychiatric Associates and Consultants of Sacramento Valley with former University colleagues.
In 1992, preferring to work closer to home, he moved his practice to Davis. With his wife, Patti, who managed the office, they worked together until his illness and treatment forced him into early retirement in December, 2007.
Pats interests included reading, traveling, classical music, performances at the Mondavi Center, casual portrait photography, technology, spending time with friends He was an ardent UCD Aggie sports fan. He frequently said that his proudest life achievements were being the husband of Patti Pederson Donlon, who survives him in Davis, and father of son, San Burton Donlon, who lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
He was preceded in death by his father (1986), a sister (1995), and his mother (2000). In addition to his son and wife of 43 years, Patrick is survived by his sister, Linda Young, of Iowa City, Iowa, and nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of whom live in Iowa. Patricks family of origin was replete with physicians, Roman Catholic priests and farmers. He frequently commented that those were the only professions from which he was allowed to choose a career.
At his request there will be no memorial service, and burial in the Davis Cemetery will be private. Donations in his memory may be made to Yolo Hospice, PO Box 1014, Davis, CA, 95617, or the Mondavi Center, UC Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA95616-8543. Friends may call or visit the family home at any time.