Glen Shols

GLEN SHOLS Glen William Shols, M.D., 88, of Chico, CA passed away peacefully Mon-day, January 26, 2015. Born November 19, 1926 in Oak Park, IL to William Theodore Shols and Alice Serene Glabe Shols, Glen was motivated to become a physician after he was badly burned as a child. He was married in 1956 to Mary Ann Clark in Washington, DC. He was raised and educated in Illinois, and graduated from Bradley University in 1947 with a BS degree in biology. He then went on to attain his medical degree from the University of Illinois, Chicago in 1952. After his internship in Indianapolis, IN, he served as a Captain in the US Air Force from 1953 to 1956. Following his marriage to Mary Ann the couple moved to San Francisco, CA to finish a medical residency in Urology at Ft. Miley. In 1959, Glen and Mary Ann moved to Chico to set up his urology practice. He continued a successful practice until 1996 when he retired at age 70. Glen and Mary Ann moved to Mendocino, CA for 12 years before returning to Chico. Dr. Shols was a member of many medical organizations, beginning with the medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha. Other recognition included membership in the Walter Reed Society, where he volunteered as a human test subject for medical research. He also belonged to the American Medical Association, the California Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons and the Butte-Glenn Medical Society. He also frequently donated time as a supervising physician at the UC Davis Medical Center Urology Clinic. Glen was an active member of the Rotary Clubs of Chico and Mendocino, CA for over 55 years. In recognition of his extensive support of scholarship and other programs, the Rotary Club of Chico awarded Glen a Paul Harris Fellowship in 1978. Glen was also a 50 year Master Mason. Glen dedicated his life to medicine and the medical well being of others, even if they were strangers. To him, medicine was science, but healing was an art. He always ran late, because he took the time to listen to all of his patients' ailments. He and his office nurse, Virginia Wesner, worked together for over 30 years. His first office was in downtown Chico, next door to the late pediatrician John Copeland, MD. Glen and John went on to build an office building on Magnolia Avenue near Enloe Hospital. The two of them later donated the building and property to Enloe. His first on-call partner was Robert Johnson, MD, a general surgeon, as there were no other urologists in the area at that time. After Enloe Hospital transitioned into a non-profit organization, he became the second Chief of Staff, and served on the Board of Directors from 1969 to 1971. Most of his time was spent in Chico, though he saw patients at Oroville Hospital and Feather River Hospital in Paradise. Glen was a passionate and accomplished snow skier. He loved the powdery white stuff, and searched for it avidly. His children enjoyed the luxury of a week off of school in the winter, when every year, Glen and his family would go skiing at Alta in Utah, Alpine Meadows, and Sugar Bowl in California. His love of snow led him to heliskiing. As an award for skiing a million vertical feet in the Canadian Rockies, he earned a powder snowsuit and jacket that he cherished. He successfully went heli-skiing after recovering from his third hip replacement. He be-longed to the "Over-the-Hill Gang", a group of older skiers that would meet at various resorts every year. Skiing was not the only sport Glen enjoyed. In 1968 he starting running for health at night in Vallombrosa Circle. It took six trips back and forth to make a mile. He ran a marathon in 1984. He also enjoyed white water rafting, and was a NAUI certified SCUBA diver among many other sporting interests. Climbing Mt. Shasta was achieved several times, once each with his son and daughter. Glen also began flying in the late 1930's becoming a private pilot. He later returned to flying in the early 1990's, taking advantage of his son-in-law Bruce Watts' instruction. He was also an avid Macintosh computer user and fan. If there was any time available, he was always ready for a game of dominos. Dr. Glen Shols is survived by son Christopher Brian Shols, his wife Hahn Bui Shols, granddaughters Erika Hahn Shols and Rebeka Christine Shols; daughter Stacey Shols Watts, her husband Milton Bruce Watts and granddaughter Calista Alison Shols Watts; Sister Claire Marquardt of Corona, CA, nephew David Marquardt, niece Kathy Marquardt Conway and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents William Theodore Shols and Alice Serene Glabe Shols. Donations to honor Glens's life may be made to the Shols Family Scholarship c/o the Chico Rotary Club, PO Box 11 Chico, CA 95926 or to the Enloe Foundation, 249 W 6th Ave, Chico, CA 95926. A celebration of Glen and Mary Ann's lives will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, May 16th, 2015 in the garden of Marilyn Warrens' home 2190 North Avenue, Chico, CA 95926.