Timothy Batchelder, M.D.
July 9, 1950 - January 10, 2018
Timothy Batchelder, M.D. left us peacefully and with dignity at the young age of 67, just before sunrise on a cloudy January morning.
The oldest of 3 children, Tim was raised in rural Oregon, in a humble home his mechanic-father built by hand. While material goods were in short supply, the family shared an abundance of love and an appreciation for the simple pleasures of outdoor life, the family farm (now 160 years old), home cooked food, and family outings.
Although neither parent had a college education, Tim was an independent learner and avid reader who loved and exceled at school. Despite setbacks, including his father’s unexpected death when he was 14, Tim succeeded in academics and athletics. At 18, he left Oregon for college at University of Chicago, then Stanford, followed by medical school at Harvard. Those years were filled with hard work, research, and numerous backpacking and cross country trips with lifelong friends.
After completing his residency in ophthalmology at UCSF, Tim joined the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group. He rose quickly, becoming Physician-inChief at Kaiser, Richmond, when the facility’s fate was uncertain. The team he led expanded and resurrected the medical center, merged staffs with Oakland, and helped patients and staff alike actualize Kaiser’s slogan “THRIVE”.
His children were his proudest accomplishment. He was soccer coach, counselor, cheerleader, consoler, and supporter. His heart was open and his sagacity available to anyone in need. He held CEOs and housekeepers in equal esteem. He led by example, and his fondest hope was to leave a legacy of love and respect among everyone he touched. He endured multiple medical treatments and pain without uttering a complaint, more concerned about the effects of his condition on others than on himself.
He is survived by his partner of 32 years and wife Laurie Green MD; his daughter Monica and her husband Greg; his son Ross; sister Jean, husband Rod; nephew Justin and niece Tracy; brother Terry, wife Veronica; and Irma “Lucy” Navarro, the family’s ‘babysitter’ for 32 years.
We are all profoundly grateful for the superlative care Tim received from physicians and staff at Kaiser Oakland, San Francisco, and South San Francisco, whose compassion, expertise, and attentiveness are unparalleled. We are honored to have been part of the Kaiser family.
Tim supported Laurie in founding the non-profit MAVEN Project which, via telehealth, links volunteer physicians – especially the newly retired – to underserved patients seeking care at safety net clinics. Financial or physician time donations can be made at www.mavenproject.org.
A memorial honoring Tim will be held at 2pm on Sunday, February 11, 2018, at the Marin Country Club, 500 Country Club Dr., Novato, CA 94949.