John H. Doval, MD

A native of Sacramento, he attended Christian Brothers High School and Sacramento City College, and graduated from the University of California Medical School (San Francisco) in 1939. He served his internship at what was then called Sacramento Hospital and, for a time, was House Physician at Sutter Hospital.

As a board certified pediatrician, he was an instructor in pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis and Assistant Physician at St Louis Childrens' Hospital.

During World War II, he was a lieutenant in the United States Naval Medical Corps, serving with the Third Marine Division in the Pacific Theater in Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima.

After the war, he was stationed in Seattle and met his future bride, Patricia M. Hanley, while attending Mass at St. James Cathedral.

(Jack always said it was a match made in heaven).

Coming to Sacramento in 1946, he took over the practice of Dr. Edward S. Babcock, the first board certified pediatrician in Sacramento. When I started my practice in Sacramento in 1955, Jack, Ben Siebenthal and I exchanged calls on weekends.

House calls in those days were $7.50 and office visits $5.00!

Jack was a devoted Catholic husband and father who shared with Pat the care of their 11 children. One night while getting the children ready for bed, he came across a child sitting on the staircase crying.

Jack told him it was time to go upstairs to bed and asked why he was crying. The child — who actually lived next door — answered tearfully, "I want to go home."

Jack was an avid fisherman who frequently went fishing in his Boston Whaler on the Sacramento River at 5 a.m., before office hours. He and his family enjoyed many hours of camping in the Sierras.

As a pediatric allergist, he was extremely well trained in the "Bill Deamer" tradition. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of which plant pollens caused hayfever or asthma. His instructions for house dust control measures and avoidance of animal danders were extensive.

His patients were very much devoted to Dr. Doval. I remember on one house call I made for Jack, as I left the house, the mother said "Don't you dare tell Dr. Jack that I have a cat," and of course, I didn't.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and his 11 children: Patty Imus of Fairbanks, AK; Mary Graziose of Woodland; Peter Doval of Westby, WI; Alexis Doval of Orinda; Liller Doval Burk of Kantishna River, AK; Tim Doval of Fairbanks, AK; Charlie Doval of Santa Rosa; Matthew Doval of Spokane, WA; John Doval of Sacramento; Sabina Gilbert of Sacramento; and Henry Doval of Sacramento.

He also leaves 13 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and numerous nieces, nephews and step grandchildren.

— Walton K. Brainerd, M.D.