George Dallas Ramsay, Jr has died at the age of 84 years. He passed away peacefully in Carmel, California on August 25, 2010 after a final good-bye wave to all those surrounding him. Our dear father died of complications from Shy-Drager Syndrome after a long decline in health. He was always courageous and brave, spending his last years reading and telling stories of his many life adventures.

Although born in Chicago, Illinois on May 5, 1926, George moved to Los Angeles when he was a teen. He never left California and made his home in San Jose, then later, Los Gatos. His parents, George and Margaret Ramsay, were from Ohio and George Sr's position as a metallurgical engineer with US Steel resulted in the family living in Utah, Alabama, Mississippi, and California. During George's young years he attended numerous schools. In 1950 he graduated from Stanford University with a doctorate degree in medicine. 

George served in the US Navy during the Korean War as a doctor until 1953. In 1949 he married Mary Lowe Ramsay and together they had four children. In 1954, together with Stanford medical school colleagues, the San Jose Medical Clinic was established. George practiced medicine with this outstanding group of physicians until his retirement in 1992.

George was passionate about his many hobbies, activities, organizations, and clubs. He was an avid Scuba diver and underwater photographer and belonged to many camera and photography clubs, jazz groups, and gardening clubs. He traveled the world's oceans and seas extensively, where he aggressively sought and found opportunities to observe, photograph, learn about, and appreciate the wonders of the oceans' abundant beauty and sea life. His knowledge of ocean science allowed him to join both Scripps and Steinhart Aquarium vessels on their research missions around the world.

George Ramsay is survived by his sons, Scott Ramsay of Monterey and Clayton Ramsay of Santa Cruz. He is also survived by his daughters Drusilla Showers of Cary, North Carolina and Tucker Ramsay of Carmel. He leaves two grandchildren. George is remembered by his children as the explorer, adventurer, connoisseur of wine and food, and especially his caring for everything relating to our oceans.

San Jose Mercury News, October 3, 2010