Richard L. Murtland MD

Richard “Dick” Murtland, dedicated doctor and surgeon, loving husband and father, died November 4, 2021, at his home in Carmel. He was 96 years old. He will be remembered for his passion for medicine, for his quick wit and love of a good joke, and for his kindness to friends and love of his family.

Born January 21, 1925, in Butler, Pennsylvania to Waldo and Grayce Murtland, Dick was raised during the depression. He and his two older brothers were taught to work hard on the family “farm” and to excel in their studies. He graduated high school in 1943, completed college in 1946 and graduated in 1950 from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.

While at Jefferson, Dick met his first wife, Ada Jane Bailey. They were married on June 30, 1951, (leaving him one day to get to his residency training in Cleveland) and welcomed their first child, Candace, the following June.

Uncle Sam called in July 1953, and Dick proudly served in the medical corps of the United States Air Force during the Korean War. After two years of service, he completed his medical training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in Thoracic and Vascular surgery.

Life was good in Chapel Hill, where Dick and Jane added Kent and Cynthia to their family. But in 1959, they took a gamble-- to join a colleague way out in Monterey, California.

Dr. Murtland was a member of the Monterey medical community for 60 years. During the early years, his practice covered the entire central coast, meaning he performed surgery in hospitals from Santa Cruz to Paso Robles. The family “Sunday drives” were really trips to check on Dad’s patients in other towns. When his then partner decided to relocate, Dick recruited Dr. Hisashi Kajikuri to join him. They enjoyed many years of practice together. Dick embraced the changes and advances in medicine, and in 2015, he was honored as the County Medical Society’s Physician of the Year.

His family thrived on the Monterey Peninsula. Dick and Jane’s home was the gathering site for holidays, parties, engagements, and the venue for both daughters’ weddings. Sadly, his beloved wife of 37 years, died in 1988 after a short battle with brain cancer. After her death, his love of medicine kept him grounded.

In February of 1995, Dick and Linda were married in Carmel Valley. The next 26 years were filled with family—including 14 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Once Dick semi-retired to become an assistant surgeon, he and Linda began traveling around the world, making new friends and forging new adventures.

Dick, “Papa,” was loved and will forever be in the hearts of his family. He is survived by his wife, Linda, his children, Candace Grant (Gary), Kent Murtland (Kathy), Cynthia Hebert (Jim), Rhonda Loader (Paris) and Michelle Balestreri (John), along with the grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Community Hospital Montage Health Foundation.

A family ceremony is planned.