April 12, 2008 James W. French, M.D

Word comes from family and friends that our classmate James W. French, M.D. died on April 12, 2008 in Bellevue, Wash. from complications of
Parkinson's disease.

French, who was born in Battle Creek, Mich., was one of the foremost practitioners of medicine in our class, serving as a longtime professor of medicine at both Stanford University and the University of Washington, and personally caring for infants and children with heart disease for more than 30 years, before retiring in 2004.

After attending Dartmouth, he received his medical degree in 1963 from the University of Michigan Medical School, where he met Marcia, who survives him as his wife of 44 years. Dr. French did a residency in Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Hospital, and then
served as a Captain in the Air Force from 1966-1968. He completed a Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at the University of Washington Hospital in 1971. He then immediately became a professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, where he served from 1971 to 1983.

He and his family moved from Palo Alto to Washington state in 1983 when he became a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington and practiced Pediatric Cardiology at Children's Hospital from 1983 until his retirement. He also was a member of many professional organizations including the American Academy of Cardiology and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

He is survived by his wife, two daughters, Jennifer and Amy, their spouses, Brandon and Derek, and two grandchildren, Otto and Sadie Lynn.. Charitable contributions in his honor may be made to Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA or Evergreen Palliative Care, 12040 NE 128th St. MS 119, Kirkland, WA 98034.

Ken Reich