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ROCHESTER, Minn. – Dr. Douglas R. Gracey, 73, died peacefully Monday, June 21, 2010, at Charter House Skilled Care Unit, Rochester, Minn.
Dr. Gracey was born Aug. 7, 1936, to Warren R. and Areta (Thompson) Gracey in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He spent his childhood in Dixon. His father was a mortician and died of pulmonary tuberculosis when Dr. Gracey was 7 years old. His mother was a master furrier and she lived to the ripe old age of 94 years.
Dr. Gracey was a graduate of Dixon High School; Coe College (1958), Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Northwestern University Medical School (1962); and received a Master of Science degree from the University of Minnesota in 1968. He married Edith H. Haas on Dec. 23, 1961, in Evanston.
Following a rotating internship at Cook County Hospital, Chicago, he entered the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in 1963, as a fellow in internal medicine, and subsequently, a fellow in pulmonary medicine. His training at Mayo was interrupted during the Vietnamese conflict. He served as a captain in the Air Force for more than 2 years at Air Force Pulmonary Disease Center at U.S. Air Force Medical Center at Scott Air Force Base. While serving at Scott Air Force Base, he was chief of the pulmonary diagnostic center and director of the pulmonary function laboratory. He also served for 2 years as a member of the board of governors of the officers open mess-officers club. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation medal and three other awards for his service.
After completing his service in the Air Force, Dr. Gracey returned to Mayo to finish his fellowship. He joined the full-time faculty at Northwestern Medical School in 1969, where he served as director of the pulmonary function laboratory and director of pulmonary medicine service at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
He also was medical director of respiratory therapy services at Highland Park Hospital and Lake Forest Hospital in the northern Chicago suburbs.
Dr. Gracey returned to Mayo Clinic in Rochester in 1975, and joined the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine. Shortly after his return, he was appointed to the position of practice chair-vice-chairman of the division. He later served for 10 years as the vice-chairman of the department of medicine; director of pulmonary medicine-anesthesiology critical care medicine service and chairman of the Revenue Systems Committee. He was a member of the Information Management Committee and chair of the IMC Clinical Applications Subcommittee. Dr. Gracy served for 5 years on the Institutional Clinical Practice Committee and 12 years as chairman of the pulmonary and critical Care medicine division. He retired from Mayo in 2005 after 30 years of service. He was board certified in internal medicine and in pulmonary medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Gracey was listed in “Who’s Who in America” and “World’s Who’s Who in Science.” He served for 2 years as president of the National Association of Medical Directors of Respiratory Care. He was a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Chest Physicians. He held a number of offices in the latter including, governor for Minnesota, chairman of the Steering Committee of the Respiratory Care Section; and chairman of the Government Liason Committee for 5 years. He received the award for Meritorious Service from the office of the command surgeon, U.S. Air Force Military Airlift Command eight times from 1968-1975.
Dr. Gracey authored more than 100 scientific manuscripts and three books. He also edited a scientific review of pulmonary diseases in the adult. In addition, he wrote two autobiographical books about his experiences as an intern at Cook County Hospital and as an Air Force physician. The former is titled “Intern In The Promised Land” and the latter, “Flying Lesson, Ambulances and other Air Force Vignettes.”
Dr. Gracey is survived by his wife of 48 years, Edith of Rochester, Minn.; one daughter, Laura Moncrieff of Golden Valley, Minn.; and one son, Douglas R. Gracey Jr. of Minnetonka, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. July 9 at First Presbyterian Church, Rochester, Minn. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. July 9 at the church. Burial will be at First Presbyterian Church Columbarium.
Arrangements were completed by Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place N.W. Rochester, MN 55901.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Gift of Life Transplant House or Paws and Claws Building Fund.
Visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com to send condolences.