In Memoriam

Dr. John Gilberts
January 15, 1936 - May 9, 2008

Dr. John H. Gilberts was born on January 15, 1936 in Everett, Washington to Elliott and Helen Gilberts. He attended Everett High School and was a member of the 1953 state championship football team. He attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa where he played football and received an associate of arts degree. He graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. in Zoology and graduated with a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Kansas Medical School in 1963.

After his internship at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Oregon he moved to Tillamook, Oregon where he was the county health officer and coroner as well as a family physician during which time, he developed a multi-modular exam and immunization program for children entering school that was an early version of the now popular Head Start program. In 1971 he joined the faculty of the University of Oregon Medical School (now Oregon Health Sciences University) and co-founded the Department of Family Practice.

John was a member of the Marion-Polk Medical Society, Oregon Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Salem Concert Band. He and his family were members of the First Christian Church in Salem, Oregon for many years.

His hobbies were playing the tuba, photography, flying, jogging, and spending time with his family. He served as the team physician for numerous athletic teams at Stayton Union High School for at least 10 years. He was the founder and original webmaster of the scb.org web site, and the scb.org domain name was gifted to the Salem Concert Band in remembrance of Dr. Gilberts' dedication to the band and to his favorite instrument, the tuba.