George (“Jim”) Schunk, MD (BS Med ’44), 87, died from cancer on Feb. 14, 2009 at his home in Salem, OR.

A native of Lakota, ND, he graduated from Bismarck High School and Jamestown (ND) College.  His enthusiasm and partnership with other physicians led to the founding of the Salem Pediatric Clinic. He practiced pediatrics for 34 years in Salem.  He also worked in a drug and alcohol treatment facility, plasma center and urgent care, and as a pediatrician in Woodburn (OR) for three years.

His energy and dedication to teaching parents, students, nurses and other doctors was limitless.  The profession benefited from his teaching as a clinical professor at the University of Oregon medical school.  He volunteered in migrant camps; served aboard the ship, Hope, in Brazil, and established education rounds at the Salem Hospital. He also served as an examiner for the American Board of Pediatrics for eight years.

Dr. Schunk held two patents, one for accurately measuring the length of babies and another for giving them medicine safely. He retired in 2000.