Dennis H. Gustafson ’67

Dennis died June 27, 2010, at home in Alamo, Calif., from the effects of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

He came to Princeton from Highland High School in Salt Lake City, where he played guard and catcher on the school’s championship teams and was an Eagle Scout. Dennis played oboe and bassoon in the Princeton Orchestra and had a continuing love for symphony and opera. He served a 30-month mission to Switzerland from 1962 to 1965. At Princeton, Dennis majored in biology, roomed for four years with Keith Hilbig, and was a member of Terrace.

In the spring of 1967, Dennis married Judith Benson Gustafson and then attended medical school at Columbia. After an internship in San Francisco, he completed a four-year residency in orthopedic surgery at UC, San Francisco and two years as an Army major. For the next 22 years, Dennis loved his career as an orthopedic surgeon at John Muir Hospital and as a partner at Diablo Orthopedic Medical Group in Walnut Creek, Calif. Dennis is remembered for his quiet devotion to duty and his kindness to others.

He is survived by Judy; children Stuart, Andrew, Joanna, Eric Blair, Carl, Cathryn, and Susan; and 14 grandchildren.