Dwight Wesley Fitterer, Jr., M.D.
June 24, 1931 - July 13, 2016
Physician-in-Chief and Physician at Kaiser Hospital in South San Francisco
Dr. Dwight Wesley Fitterer, Jr., passed away peacefully in hospice with his family present on July 13, 2016. He was born in Dallas, Texas to Dwight Wesley Fitterer Sr. and Kathryn Stitt Fitterer. He attended the prestigious Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia, PA for secondary school and Amherst College, in Amherst, MA, for his undergraduate studies. He went to medical school at the University of Rochester, in Rochester, NY. In 1960 Dwight began his Senior Residency with Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco, then moved directly from residency to medical practice and leadership within Kaiser’s physician group, The Permanente Medical Group, TPMG. He served as Assistant Physician-in-Chief in San Francisco. In 1967, at age 36, he became the Physician-In-Charge and ultimately Physician-In-Chief of the original Kaiser Hospital in South San Francisco located on Grand Avenue in SSF. Dwight was a visionary leader. He hired specialty trained physicians from great programs all over the nation to join TPMG at KP SSF. He convinced the Kaiser Foundation Hospital board to replace the inadequate hospital with a new hospital that would accommodate future needs. He worked closely with the architects and KFH to successfully create the Kaiser Hospital that stands today on El Camino Real in South SF. Dwight led Kaiser SSF as its Physician-in-Chief for 25 years until his retirement in 1992.
Dwight leaves a legacy at KP SSF and TPMG. He was Treasurer of The Permanente Medical Group during the transition from partnership status to corporation and was part of the leadership team that oversaw the process. It was a move that today protects thousands of physicians and their retirement programs. Financially savvy, he earned a business degree at Harvard Business School while PIC at KP SSF.
He supported female physicians in becoming leaders within TPMG. He also supported KP’s Hospice Program, an early Well-Being and Wellness Program, physician participation in Home Health & Nursing Home Care, exploration of a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, transition to an early medical record system(CIPS) and for innovative operating techniques.
Dwight carried himself with grace and loved to surprise people with his quick wit and ironic humor. Dwight’s oldest friend and colleague since the 1960s, Dr. Tony Galletto, recently described Dwight as “charming, witty, keen and precise”, and a man who he respected and admired throughout their professional and personal friendship. Dwight’s life, however, was not without tragedy. He lost his daughter, Kristin Fitterer, in 1985 (age 24) in an automobile accident. He found solace and happiness at his sunny weekend home in Santa Rosa, CA, where he enjoyed time with his wife, Marjie. He loved to garden, play tennis and he especially enjoyed their international travels.
Dr. Fitterer is survived by Marjie Frost Fitterer, his wife, and daughters from his previous marriage to Sandra Beckman: Lisa TeviaClark, Brasstown, NC and Barbara Fitterer, Oakland, CA, their spouses: James Clark and Kelly McCown, Esq. and by grandsons, Taija Tevia-Clark, Olympia, WA and Elienne TeviaClark, Brasstown, NC. Dwight is deeply missed and will never be forgotten. For information about a possible Celebration of Life, please email Marjie: marjiefitterer@mac.com.