Edw. Sargent, Jr., M.D.

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Edw. C. Sargent Jr., M.D. passed away peacefully early March 19, 2010.
He was born March 23, 1916 in Columbus, Ohio. He moved with his family to Lakewood, Ohio when he was a young boy. Growing up during the Depression 1930s meant trying to find whatever jobs were available from selling magazines, delivering newspapers, pumping gas and working as a drugstore soda jerk (Ed’s favorite). He also spent a couple of summers during college on the Great Lakes iron ore boats as a coal passer to pay for his education. He received his bachelor’s from Adelbert College at Western Reserve University and attended Case Western Medical School. He interned at the University of Minnesota. That was interrupted by WWII during which time Ed served as the ship’s surgeon on LSTs in the South Pacific (including extended time at Guadalcanal). He remained in the Naval Reserves and retired with the rank of Captain. His residency in OB/GYN was completed at the University of Minnesota, where he met his wife Mary Jane. In 1948, he opened a practice in Austin. And in 1959, longing for warmer weather, “Sarge” and MJ packed up their four children into the station wagon and drove cross country to San Rafael, Calif. Ed was a partner at the Marin Medical Group in Terra Linda for 14 years during which time he was on the teaching staff at UCSF medical center. In 1973 another move brought Ed, MJ and their youngest son to Lawrenceville, N.J. Ed was the Director of Medical Research for Ortho Pharmaceutical Corp. in Raritan for seven years. They were some of the best years because there were no more late night calls! A return to California was always in the cards, and in 1980 this became reality with his working for the California Department of Public Health in Sacramento, before retiring to The Sea Ranch and Mill Valley. During retirement, he made several trips worldwide as the ship’s doctor aboard Texas A & M’s oceanographic vessel, SEDCO/BP471.
Ed spent many active years participating in Rotary and the Marin Medical Society. He was most proud of the 6000 plus babies he delivered. He and MJ loved new adventures and traveled the globe from South America to China, visiting six continents. In his spare time he enjoyed sailing, tennis, golf and reading, especially his constant companion, The Wall Street Journal, but he was happiest when he was with his family.
Ed is predeceased by his first wife, Betty Hegvold Sargent, and son, Edw. C. Sargent III , M.D.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Mary Jane; daughters, Betsy Fowler (Art)  Alamo, Calif., Allison Saether Napa, Calif.; son, Preston Sargent (Julie) Seattle, Wash.; daughter-in-law, Kim Sargent of Corvallis, Ore.; six grandchildren; older sister, Betty Williams of Rocky River, Ohio; nephews, Howard Williams (Diane) Blowing Rock, N.C., Russell West (Mary) of Imbler, Ore., and nieces, Lydia Fleming (John) of St. Ignatius, Mont. and Dulcy Zoellner (Dick) of Whitefish, Mont.
Never losing his wit even in the last days of his life, he was a prolific story and joke teller and will be sorely missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Edw. C. Sargent III Scholarship Fund at Clark Honors College, P.O. Box 3346 U. of OR. Eugene, OR. 97403-0346
A memorial service is to be held Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 2:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in San Anselmo, Calif.