Dr. John Shearer

John Shearer, who practiced as a family physician in Petaluma for more than 40 years, died Nov. 18, 2009 after a short illness. He was 77.

Dr. Shearer was known as a tireless humanitarian who was dedicated to the goal of justice in health care.

A native of Kokomo, Ind., he moved with his family to Detroit and married his first wife, Mary, in 1955. Originally trained as a pharmacist, he earned his medical degree from Wayne State University in 1962.

He moved to Petaluma in 1964, and started El Rose Medical Clinic the same year with three other doctors, David Sisler, Ray Johnson and John Mohrman. He retired two years ago.

Dr. Shearer was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three weeks ago.

“He was a strong advocate for health-care reform and supported a universal single-payer system,” said his wife, Donna Brasset Shearer. “For him, it was a moral, not an ideological issue. He felt we should be in line with the major industrial countries of the world.”

Rep. Lynn Woolsey said, “We have just lost a great hero for health-care reform. He was thoughtful and caring, and knew what direction we should be going in, particularly with (health care for) children. He cared so much about them. He was was a wonderful resource to me.”

“He called my office on the Saturday when the House voted on health-care reform and left a message saying, ‘Good work and good luck,’” Woolsey said. “It meant so much.”

“He was one of the first single-payer advocates and one of the strongest that I knew,” she added.

His son, David Shearer, recalled that his father made a lot of house calls with his black doctor’s bag in the early years of his practice. “In those days, there were no ob-gyns. He delivered hundreds of babies in Petaluma.”

“My father the was the finest man I have ever known or will ever know,” he said.

His daughter, Annette Moussa, said, “My dad was the most selfless person I know. He balanced devotion to his family with a desire and need to service his community. He was compassionate, kind and joyful.”

Daymon Doss, CEO of the Petaluma Health Care District, said, “I served on several committees with John where he was such a powerful voice advocating for children’s health. The health-care reform that we are talking about today, John has been advocating and prodding for decades — specifically single-payer and children’s health care. He did not hesitate to advocate for single-payer among his physician peer group. He was a real voice for progressive health care.”

Jim Glynn, a local orthopedic surgeon, said, “John Shearer was caring, capable and kind; a physician who represented all the best in our profession. I don’t think I’ve ever met a finer man.”

Dr. Shearer was very active in community and social issues. He was involved Physicians for Social Responsibility, an organization dedicated to preventing nuclear war and proliferation and to halt global warming and toxic degradation of the environment. He was also part of a grassroots group, Save Our School, that helped raise money to keep Grant Elementary School open in 1972 when it was threatened with closure.

In the 1980s, he was head of Physicians for Social Responsibility in the North Bay. He also initiated the Childrens’ Health Initiative to ensure that all uninsured children in Sonoma County would have health care.

He served as medical director of the Jewish Community Free Clinic in Cotati and Rohnert Park, was the chief of the medical staff at Hillcrest Hospital in 1974-75 and president of the PVH medical staff in 1986-87 and also served as chairman of the PVH ethics committee for many years until 2005.

He also served as president of the California Physicians Alliance, an organization of physicians advocating for single-payer national health insurance.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Brasset Shearer of Petaluma; son, David Shearer of Gig Harbor, Wash.; daughter, Annette Moussa of Petaluma; and two grandchildren.

Memorial services are pending. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers written reminiscences.