James Thomas Monahan

James T. Monahan, MD, of Bothell, WA passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 2nd at the age of 92. Jim was also known as ‘Doc’ to his many friends and patients from his long career as a family practice physician in Bothell. Jim leaves behind his sister Jean, children David (Nancy), Susan (David Higginbotham), Paul, Joe, and John (Nicole), 11 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild.

Jim was born on April 1st, 1933 in West Seattle to Joe and Bernice Monahan. He was the middle child between older brother Joe and younger sister Jean. He attended school in West Seattle and graduated from West Seattle HS in 1951. He and his brother were adventurous when it came to exploring the back roads of the NW and that would continue his whole life. Dad would work in a soda fountain during high school, and it was well known that he was well compensated given the amount of ice cream he consumed. His sweet tooth was legendary and well documented.

A chance encounter on a trip to South America in 1952 led to him pursuing a career in medicine. He attended the University of WA, graduating with the class of 1958. He served his internship in Philadelphia, PA where he met Alice Shreve, and they were wed in 1960. He entered the Air Force in 1959 as a flight surgeon. After posting for a period in Spain, they returned to the states and served at Edwards and George AFB. Their first son David was born in Victorville, CA in 1961.

After leaving the Air Force, they moved to Bothell, WA and Jim joined a medical practice with four other doctors. In 1969, he and 3 of the other doctors left to start their own family practice clinic known as the Bothell Medical Clinic. He was the last living original founder of the practice, which has now become part of Evergreen Health.

The family lived in the Maywood Hills area of Bothell for six years, and then purchased a home near St. Brendan’s Catholic Church and School. Four kids followed David: Susan, Paul, Joe, and John. While Dad was busy with a thriving medical practice, he provided adventure for the kids. Three acres of wooded land behind the house kept the kids busy but close. Sheep and goats wandered the property long after the kids left home. Camping trips to La Wis Wis near Mt. Rainier and Cape Lookout in Oregon were highlights of the summer. Road trips were common, hauling the whole family through the national parks and across the country to visit family. The ultimate trip in 1978 was a 7 week, 14,000 mile trip around the U.S. from Seattle to Maine, to Florida and back, with a 12 passenger Ford van and a 32’ travel trailer. The Griswolds would have been proud.

Jim and Alice would separate in 1979. Dad would remarry in 1987 to Carolyn Jewett, but would return to bachelorhood in 1992. His travel bug never diminished and he would never fail to amaze us with his next planned adventure. He had a time-share condo at Wapato Point on Lake Chelan, and a small cabin on the Skykomish river near Index. His piles of reading material when he spent time at either place were a well-known mix of medical journals and travel information.

Dad was a skier, and started his kids young, despite the crying from frozen cramped feet. Trips to Whistler, Sun Valley, and Mt. Bachelor are memory highlights. Dad was also a lifelong tennis player starting in high school. He had a decades long perpetual tournament with friend Ed Kaiser, and they traded their own trophy and the lunch bill for many years. Sons David and John, and son-in-law Dave spent many Sunday mornings playing tennis with him in Woodinville. Around the late1990s, he started attending the annual Indian Wells Tennis Open near Palm Springs with family friend Dean Harding. That trip continues today with a great group of men that miss his tennis interest and enthusiasm.

You cannot separate the man Jim, from the physician Doc. He was a dedicated and compassionate doctor, during a period where patient care took priority over profits. Evening and weekend office and house call visits were common, and we kids were trained to answer the phone at home for him. Many evenings out included a stop at the hospital for him to check on his patients. We know of numerous occasions where his dedication led to significant improvements to his patients’ lives. He performed countless flight physicals for pilots, and pre-hiring physicals for Bothell police officers and firefighters. He was the team doctor for the Bothell High School football team for years. He retired in 2006 when electronic medical records became required and the corporate realities changed how he could manage his patients.

Dad was adventurous his whole life. He travelled both to Antarctica and to the Arctic, and all continents in between. His brother Joe was a frequent partner, whether it was flying a Cessna 172 to Alaska, or driving the frozen roads in winter to the far north of Canada. He joined the Seattle Mountaineers and learned to climb mountains, including summiting Mt. Rainier, Mt Fuji in Japan, and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. He traveled to Cambodia, Vietnam, and Guatemala with different medical groups, continuing his passion of helping people. His travels including a month long solo trip to India and several trips to Vietnam were favorites. He traveled to Abu Dhabi and Dubai with son John and took frozen milk with him to have with his Oreos.

Dad was a prolific photographer on his travels and shared those trips with countless people through his slideshows. As his travel diminished, he took his slideshows around to senior living facilities and shared the world with people who’d never seen such sights.

One of Dad’s last great adventures was a solo road-trip in his 80’s to Nova Scotia. Technology and an app allowed us to track his position and progress, and it wasn’t a huge surprise to find him zipping along some backroad in Newfoundland at 80mph.

A fall and broken hip in late 2021 led to his move from the Bothell home to Brittany Park in Woodinville, where he was well-loved and cared for. He continued to attend the Seattle Opera, which he loved. 4th of July, 2025 found him at the beach on Mutiny Bay, Whidbey Island with family and friends, and even a boat ride.

In August of 2025, his care needs had him move to Blueberry Gardens in Bothell where the staff cared for him like family. His final weeks included weekly dinners provided by the kids, with friends and family enjoying time with Dad.

A memorial and celebration of life service will be scheduled in Bothell, WA on March 21 or 22, 2026; details to be determined. Jim’s ashes will be scattered at his favorite place, his cabin on the Skykomish River in Index, WA. He leaves behind a loving family, a rich history, and countless friends and patients.