Obituary of Chris J. Dybdahl

Chris J. Dybdahl was born on a homestead in Boyero, Colorado, on December 8, 1918, the middle of three children born to Christian Pedersen and Seola Johnson Dybdahl. It was during the time of the great influenza pandemic and the doctor, after delivering Chris, drove his buggy home and died soon after of the flu. The world of Chris' childhood and young adulthood, as told by him with enthusiasm and attention to detail, was colorful and filled with an endless variety of adventures. A graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Chris received his Medical Degree in 1943 from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. He served his internship and first year residency in Internal Medicine at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, finishing his final two years residency at Colorado General Hospital in Denver. While stationed as a physician in the Army at William Beaumont General Hospital, El Paso, Texas, he met the love of his life, Yolanda Addeman, teacher of his Spanish class. They were married in 1947 after he returned from a ten-month tour of duty in the Philippines and this February they celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. They have lived in Santa Cruz since 1951. In 1953 Chris was one of the six founding partners of the Santa Cruz Medical Clinic, a multi-practice clinic built on the yet to be developed west side of town. It included a laboratory, radiology department, and pharmacy, and in 1995 it became Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Santa Cruz. Chris loved the practice of medicine and attended weekly medical conferences at Dominican Hospital even after his stroke in 2012. He enjoyed the camaraderie and recognized the contribution of every employee throughout the clinic and hospitals. He continued to make house calls until he retired from his practice in 1983, at which time he took on the job of administrator/medical director of the SCMC's incipient managed care program until 1989. His patients, many of whom were also his friends, loved him for the unhurried time he would devote to their concerns. Traveling as a means of experiencing other environments and ways of life, of meeting and learning about people, was a passion that took him, Yolanda and children by car and train to Mexico many times, across Canada and through many of the United States. After retirement he and Yolanda traveled throughout Europe, and ultimately to his father's homeland, Denmark, where he had the pleasure of meeting his cousin, Ella, and her family. Chris had a playful artistic spirit; his trademarks were his bowtie and mustache; he was young at heart and his appearance was youthful to his dying days. He was a towering source of love, not only to his immediate family, but also to his in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. His loving smile, the twinkle in his eyes, his calm, capable caring, his intelligence, and his loving appreciation of others will be greatly missed. As his Danish cousin Jan expressed, "A great man has left us. Farewell to an unusually warm and present man." Chris lived as fully as possible even when confined to bed -- strong in spirit and heart, with humor, a smile, gratitude, and a warm handshake. He died peacefully at home on April 25, 2014, surrounded by the love of his family and friends. Chris was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Richard; his sister, Irene Wilson; and his grandson, Jon Paul Dybdahl. He is survived by his wife, Yolanda, and children, Adele (Tom) Kimple, Chris (Rossanna), Erik (Nancy) and Mark; his grandchildren, Paul (Marleen) Kimple, Kevin (Sheri) Kimple, Paul Dybdahl (Kate Lombardi), Jeremy (Kelly) Dybdahl, Nicholas Dybdahl, and Adam (Jessie) Dybdahl; numerous great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws. A memorial mass will be celebrated at Holy Cross Church on Monday, May 5, 2014, at noon. A reception will be held immediately after at the Holy Cross Parish Hall. The family wishes to thank the loving, conscientious caregivers provided by Florence and Rachael Kuo, the loving care and friendship of Chris' doctors, and for Hospice of Santa Cruz County for their ever-ready support. In memory of this loving man, recognize the worth of the people around you who assist you and contribute to your life; and if you wish to further honor him, donate to the charity of your choice.