William A. Reeves
1924-Sept. 12, 2010
Los Altos, California

Dr. William A. Reeves, one of the founders of El Camino Hospital, died Sept. 12, 2010, at the age of 86, after a brief illness.

In the early 1960s, Reeves helped found El Camino Hospital, where he served as the hospital's first medical chief of staff. He was heavily involved in the establishment of the RotaCare Free Health Clinic, which provides free health care to the uninsured, and started the Older Adult Resource Center. He served for many years on the El Camino Hospital board and remained active on the hospital foundation's board until his death.

Reeves was born in Salinas in 1924, served as a naval officer in the Pacific during World War II, and graduated from Stanford University and the Stanford School of Medicine. He began his obstetrics and gynecology career in Los Altos in 1955, delivering thousands of babies during his 40 years in private practice.

He was a member of the Los Altos Country Club and the Rancheros Vistadores group. Family members said Reeves was an avid horseman and the patriarch of the family's working cattle ranch, Cienega Del Gabilan Ranch near San Juan Bautista.

He is survived by his three children: Lauren Reeves Boyle of Los Gatos, Bill Reeves of Los Altos and Michael Reeves of San Juan Bautista; his sister Marilyn Baldocchi; seven grandchildren; and his fiancee, Pat Pierce. He was preceded in death by his wife Ann in 2001.

Tags: veteran, public service