Mary Louise and Simon Brumbaugh

Mary Lou Brumbaugh was born Mary Louise Moore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 4, 1930 and died in her sleep on Thursday, February 21, 2013 at her home in Spring Valley. She was 83. Remarkably, she and her loving husband of 62 years, Dr. Simon C. Brumbaugh, Jr., were both diagnosed with the same type of cancerous brain tumor last year, though Mary Lou’s was inoperable and moved rapidly to completely debilitate her.

Mary Lou graduated from P.S. DuPont High School in Wilmington, Delaware, in June 1947. She attended and graduated from Jefferson Medical College School of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse in September 1950. She met her future husband, Si, on a blind date, while he was attending Jefferson Medical College. They married in December 1950; she continued working in the Operating Room of their teaching hospital while he finished his studies and graduated as a Medical Doctor in June 1951.

After Si’s graduation, they moved to Lemon Grove, California. Mary Lou worked at the County Hospital in San Diego while Si completed his residency and began his practice in General and Family Medicine in July 1952 (Lemon Grove Medical Group). Mary Lou left nursing to begin their family and they remained in Lemon Grove for the next 45 years, raising all seven of their daughters there, before building a home overlooking Casa De Oro, which was closer to Si’s new office (Scripps Clinic - Rancho San Diego).

Mary Lou was very active in her local community as well the greater San Diego area. She was a life-long member of the Lemon Grove Jr. Women’s Club, past President of the Lemon Grove Kiwa-Annes and served as Sponsor for many local Blue Birds, Camp Fire Girls, Brownies and Girls Scouts troops and organizations and also the Lemon Grove Historical Society. Their girls all attended San Miguel Elementary School, Lemon Grove Junior High and Helix High School, so Mary Lou served with all three Parent Teacher Associations and was recognized with the Honorary Service Award in 1968 and the Continuing Service Award in 1979.

She was a life long member of the San Diego County Medical Auxiliary, holding numerous offices and Chairwomanships. She served on the State Board of the California Medical Auxiliary and was a Delegate to the organization from San Diego for over twenty years. She was a Charter member of the Grossmont Hospital Auxiliary serving as Memory Garden Chairwoman, Area Sewing Chairwoman, Assistant to the Program Committee and Harvest Ball Patron’s Co-Chairwoman. She was on their Junior Board, since 1971, serving as Chairwoman, Co-Chairwoman, Junior Member Presentee Chairwoman, Junior Advisory Committee, Co-Director and Junior Director.

Mary Lou was raised Catholic, but after marrying Si and moving to Lemon Grove, they both became members of the 1st Congregational Church, later known as United Church of Christ Congregational and now known as Lemon Grove Community Church.

Mary Lou and Si travelled quite a bit over the years, partially because of Si’s involvement with various medical organizations, but also because they enjoyed seeing the world. Following Si’s retirement, Mary Lou and Si began a more regular schedule of travel, When not vacationing elsewhere they spent most weekends overseeing their beach rental on Mission Bay; bike riding, dining out, catching up with friends and enjoying San Diego’s wonderful weather.

Mary Lou supported Si in his interest in sports over the years, despite how upset he was when his team lost. Si was a Chargers season ticket holder since 1961 and they spent many years supporting the Padres and San Diego State Aztecs football as well. They would often have a tailgate group who met before the games and Mary Lou would take a book in case of boredom during the games, but generally passed the time by chatting with other fans. Mary Lou and Si also attended the horse races in Del Mar every Wednesday during the season, generally inviting friends or family to join them in their box seats and then enjoy dinner out somewhere after the races.

Mary Lou and Si made a habit of going to the movies and out to eat once if not twice a week. They also held season tickets to the La Jolla Playhouse, the Old Globe and the San Diego Symphony Summer Pops series at the Embarcadero.

Mary Lou is survived by her loving husband Simon, her sister, Natalie Daniello of Wilmington, Delaware, her brother, William P. Moore of Spring Valley, her seven daughters, Barbara McCravey (Ralph) of Los Angeles, Carol Brown (David) of San Diego, Jo Ann Zawacki (Rick) of La Mesa, Mary Robertson (Art) of Encinitas, Patricia Brumbaugh (John Carter) of Denver, CO, Susan Keidel (Mark) of Redlands and Tamara Brumbaugh (Larry Dickman) of Pleasanton, along with fourteen grandchildren; Sean McCravey, Gracie Lee Brown, Zoe Zawacki, Anna, Emily and Amy Robertson, Raymond and Alana Carter and William, Charles, Andrew, Phillip and Elizabeth Keidel, and Mathew Dickman.

Mary Lou lived a very full and beautiful life and felt blessed and grateful to her husband for providing her with the life they shared. She had done more than she had ever hoped for in life. What she may not have realized was the contribution she made to this world. In life she touched and blessed so many with her outgoing, loving, caring and supportive nature. She will be sorely missed by her family, friends and so many more today, tomorrow and always, but she will be with us all in spirit forever and always and never ever forgotten.

Donations can be sent in memory of Mary Louise Moore Brumbaugh to the Jefferson School of Nursing C/O Jefferson Foundation, 925 Chestnut Street, Suite 110, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

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Simon Clarence Brumbaugh, Jr. was born in Windber, PA, May 14, 1924. He died at home in Spring Valley, CA, August 21, 2013; he was 89. Predeceased (February 21, 2013) by Mary Lou, his loving wife of 62 years; they both succumbed to cancerous brain tumors.

Si graduated Windber High School (1942), left college for the Navy (1943-1946) and, following in his father’s footsteps, graduated Juniata College (1947) and then Jefferson Medical College (1951). He met a nursing student named Mary Lou, on a blind date, while they were both attending Jefferson and they married in December 1950.

After graduation they moved to Lemon Grove, CA, Si completed his rotating internship at the County Hospital (June 1952), began his practice in General and Family Medicine in association with Dr. Wesley Herbert (July 1952) and in 1958 they formed the Lemon Grove Medical Group, with Si serving as President. Over the years, the Group expanded to include specialties and had more than a dozen physicians; they built a new office to service the growing Rancho San Diego area and ultimately sold the practice to Scripps Clinic. The original Lemon Grove Medical Group office now houses the City of Lemon Grove City Hall and Sheriff’s Office.

Si and Mary Lou remained in Lemon Grove for 45 years, raising all 7 of their daughters there, before building their retirement home overlooking Casa De Oro, closer to Si’s new office (Scripps Clinic - Rancho San Diego). They were active in their church, the local community and numerous professional organizations in the greater San Diego area.

Si and Mary Lou joined the Lemon Grove First Congregational Church, which later became United Church of Christ – Congregational and is now known as Lemon Grove Community Church. Si was a member of the Board of Trustees (1963–1966) and served as Moderator (1967-1968). He was also a lifetime member of the Free & Accepted Masons, carrying on his family’s legacy with that organization. Si served the Lemon Grove Kiwanis Club as President (1957), Lieutenant Governor (1960) and as President of the Past District Officers Association (1975). In 1970, he earned praise serving as the Tuberculosis and Health Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties Lemon Grove - Spring Valley Area Chairman for the 63rd Annual Christmas Seal Campaign.

Si’s greatest professional mission was serving his patients and their families, which he enjoyed for nearly 60 years. It was not unusual for him to have cared for 3 generations of the same family. He was also very passionate about preserving the role of the family doctor and he worked to that end through his service to many professional organizations. He was on the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and served as President (1963) for the San Diego Academy of Family Physicians. He then went on to act as District Director for the California Academy of Family Physicians, ultimately working his way up the executive ranks to President (1978-1979) of the California Academy. He served on various committees for the American Academy of Family Physicians, was Regional Advisor for their Commission on Education (1977-1979), charged with approving all Category I education programs in the southwestern states and served in their Congress of Delegates for many years.

Si was involved in establishing both the undergraduate and graduate programs in Family Medicine for the University of California, San Diego, was Assistant Clinical Professor of Family Medicine there for more than 20 years and was a Preceptor for UCSD students at both the clinical and pre-clinical levels. Over the years, he and Mary Lou even opened their home to several live-in Preceptees through the California Academy’s Preceptorship Program.

Si served in various capacities for the San Diego County Medical Society (Program Chairman, Finance Committee) and for the California Medical Association, as Delegate (1964-1979), Counselor to District #1 (1971-1973), and as a member of their Scientific Board (1972-1975 and 1976-1979), in support of the American Medical Association.

Among Si’s other accomplishments he was Grossmont Hospital’s Chief of Staff (1964-1965). He served on the Board of Trustees (1972-1979), the Executive Committee (1975-1979) and as Vice Chairman for the Audio-Digest Foundation, which publishes audio recordings of clinical lectures presented by experts as a means to further ones education and ultimately provide better patient care. He was also President of the Doctors Service Bureau, served on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for Medical Care and was a Founding Member of the Bank of San Diego, Cuyamaca Bank and Valley de Oro Bank.

Throughout his life, Si’s personal pursuits included photography, hunting, swimming, water skiing and snow skiing and he and Mary Lou very much enjoyed travelling. When their children were young, Si’s medical affiliations took them to various conventions each year and they managed a few European vacations, but after Si’s semi-retirement they began a more vigorous travel schedule. In addition to their regular visits to favorite domestic locations, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Brian Head, Park City, Philadelphia and New York, they travelled to Africa, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chili, Costa Rica, Croatia, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Guatemala, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and Viet Nam. In their later years, they discovered the pleasure of river cruises (Elbe River, Rhine River, Russian Waterways, Black Sea) enjoying time at various ports without having to pack and unpack! (They took 20+ trips with Grand Circle Travel.) When not vacationing elsewhere they spent most weekends at their “Crow’s Nest” overlooking Mission Bay; bike riding, catching up with friends and enjoying San Diego’s wonderful weather.

Si was a die-hard San Diego sports fan. He was a Chargers season ticket holder since 1961 and spent many years supporting the Padres and San Diego State Aztecs football as well. Si and Mary Lou attended the Del Mar horse races every Wednesday during the season, generally inviting friends or family to join them in their box seats. They always enjoyed dining out and going to movies, plays or concerts including La Jolla Playhouse, the Old Globe and the San Diego Symphony Summer Pops series at the Embarcadero.

Si is survived by his sister, Elizabeth Perry (101 years of age) of Pittsburgh, PA, 7 daughters, Barbara McCravey (Ralph) of El Monte, Carol Brown (David) of San Diego, Jo Ann Zawacki (Rick) of La Mesa, Mary Robertson (Art) of Encinitas, Patricia Brumbaugh (John Carter) of Lakewood, CO, Susan Keidel (Mark) of Redlands and Tamara Brumbaugh (Larry Dickman) of Pleasanton, 14 grandchildren; Sean McCravey, Gracie Lee Brown, Zoe Zawacki, Anna, Emily and Amy Robertson, Raymond and Alana Carter and William, Charles, Andrew, Phillip and Elizabeth Keidel and Mathew Dickman, as well as several nieces and nephews including, locally, a nephew, Pete Smith of Lemon Grove, and a niece Susan (Gerald) Farmer of Del Mar.

His was an extraordinarily full life, very well lived!

A joint Celebration of Life for both Si and Mary Lou Brumbaugh is being held Saturday, November 30, 2013, at 2:00 p.m., at the Joan B. Kroc Theater, 6611 University Ave., San Diego. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine or to the Lemon Grove Community Church.