Joan May Galvin Dowling Tribute

Joan May Galvin Dowling was born in Northampton, MA, October 11, 1928, and passed away in Fairfield, CA on Thursday, March 5, 2009. She was the daughter of the late John H. Galvin and Eva Cartwright Galvin.  She is survived by her husband David, daughter Cheryl Young, of West Jordan, Utah; and two grandchildren, Christopher and Brittany.

Joan graduated from Peter Bent Brigham Hospital School of Nursing in Boston, MA. She married David Fraser Dowling September, 2, 1950. 

She had a distinguishing career as a nurse and management in the medical field. Her first management position was Director of Nurses at the Natick Hospital in Natick, MA, where her daughter, Cheryl was born.  Joan taught nursing courses in Natick.

When her husband David returned from the Korean war, they moved to Oakland, CA where Joan became the Director of Nurses of Dowling Convalescent Hospital.

Joan was recruited by the California State Department of Heath to begin a distinguished career where she rose through the various levels of the Department of Licensing and Certification of Medical Facilities.  When she retired Joan was the Department’s Regional Administrator of Southern California.

Since husband David was in airline management they traveled together on several trips every year.  Apart from trips to her home town in Massachusetts and around the USA, they made multiple trips to the Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, and London.

Joan studied piano and became a good piano player. She loved to dance and belonged to various dance clubs with her husband.

In the late nineties she showed signs of head trauma believed to be caused by a severe automobile accident years prior.  Joan’s last couple of years were spent in a convalescent hospital.

She was surrounded by her loving family at the time of her passing.

MY MOM'S WISHES ~

Mom, having devoted her life to the medical community continues to do so even after her passing. Her will stated that she would like her body donated to science.

Here follows a quote from a letter my dad just received in the mail from the University of California, San Francisco, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine: 

"Perhaps you and other family members will gain comfort from the knowledge that she has aided in advancing the goals of medical education and has given service to the community and to the State of California".

         ~ Wish granted, Mom.

Family Contacts ~

Husband:

David F Dowling

2973 Candleberry Way

Fairfield, CA  94533

Daughter:

Cheryl A Young

1342 Stone Meadow Dr.

West Jordan, UT  84088