June 22, 1935 – January 7, 2020
Richard A. Jensen ’59 was born June 22, 1935, in Hollywood, California and died of prostate cancer on Jan. 7, 2020, in Newport Beach, California. Due to his grandfather’s encouragement, Dick decided to take medicine. His early years were spent in Glendale, California, where he completed grade school and high school at Glendale Adventist Academy. Dick attended La Sierra University, majoring in biology. He graduated in 1959 from Loma Linda University as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He interned at the Los Angeles County General Hospital. Following internship, he took a year of internal medicine residency at the San Bernardino County Hospital. He then spent two years in the Army as a captain, including 16 months in Seoul, Korea. While in Korea, he enjoyed making weekly rounds at the Seoul Sanitarium, often accompanied by George H. Rue ’24.
On return from active duty, he spent two years in an internal medicine residency at the VA hospital (Wadsworth), in Los Angeles. Dick entered private practice in Newport Beach, California, in 1965. In 1981 he joined United Airlines as a Flight Surgeon. In his 18 years with United he worked in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, finishing his career as Regional Flight Surgeon in San Francisco. He was a fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association and a member of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine.
Dick and his wife Caroline loved to travel, he tried never to miss a class reunion, and was a lifelong member of the Adventist Church.
He is survived by wife, Caroline; son, Richard Jr.; and four grandchildren, Richard III, Apple, Piper, and
Jack.
(Source: Family of Dr. Jensen)
