Lasting Memories

M. Harry Jennison
Aug. 28, 1923-March 24, 2014
Palo Alto, California

Dr. M. Harry Jennison passed away, after a serious fall and following complications.

Harry was born in Mullenville, Kansas. His father was a United Brethren minister, living in several Kansas towns. Harry started singing early, in his father's church, with his beautiful baritone/bass voice. He carried papers to earn his first bicycle. He graduated high school in Iola, Kansas. He attended University of Kansas and graduated from Kansas University Medical Center (KUMC) in 1947. He and his wife, Sally, met at KUMC. He being from Kansas and she being from Missouri, he was a "Yankee" and she was a "rebel." They married the day after graduation, 1947.

Dr. Jennison interned at Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, and did his three years of pediatric residency at K.U.M.C. He was so proud of his Kansas training. He practiced one year on the Plaza in Kansas City, before being called to Navy duty. He spent two years at Camp Pendleton, California, where he happened to carpool with two doctors from Los Altos, who glowingly talked of the area.

He received a phone call from Dr. Russell Lee asking him to come visit Palo Alto Clinic and the Pediatric Department. He came on a rainy day, flew back to Southern California and told his wife, "We're moving to Palo Alto." "I was taken with the group practice concept," Jennison said.

In 1953, he joined the group practice at P.A.C. Only Mayo Clinic and Palo Alto had group practice at that time. He so loved the collegiality of his fellow pediatric doctors, which included Drs. Esther Clark, Joe Davis, Bruce Jessup, Pulford, Blair and Kosek. Office visits were $4 and house calls $6, and made 24/7, day and night. Immunizations were free. Always enjoying singing, he helped form a quartet (of five), composed of Drs. John Young, Bob Jamplis, Glen Lillington, Bob Shelby and himself.

He also was a Palo Alto school physician for many years, supervising school nurses. He loved the practice of pediatrics and was devoted to the care of his patients and their families. He remained with the clinic in general pediatric practice for 10 years. Dr. Norm Kretchmer invited Dr. Jennison to represent the community pediatricians, and he became clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford.

In 1963, he became executive and medical director of the Stanford Convalescent Home for Children (known as the "Con Home"). Dr. Jennison guided Children's Hospital through its transition from a home for chronically ill children to a major Western referral center for treatment of cancer, cystic fibrosis, psychosomatic problems and orthopedic disabilities. They tore down a condemned building which had belonged to Leland Stanford and constructed a beautiful one story quadrant building. He was instrumental in developing a team approach to the care of children. Dr. Esther Clark built the Children's Health Council in 1964, next door. In his last few years at Children's Hospital at Stanford, it became mandatory that this hospital become a part of Stanford University Medical Center. He worked closely with Lucile Packard to help this become a reality.

Dr. Jennison accepted a position at American Academy of Pediatrics, and became executive director in 1980. It is a prestigious organization in Illinois, representing more than 40,000 pediatricians. They are advocates for children and youth and promote the role of pediatrician. They have an active presence in Washington, D.C., and international pediatrics, and address the needs of infants, children and youth throughout the world.

Dr. Jennison left the academy in 1986 to return to California, cowboy boots, summers in the Marble Mountains and music. He sang with Dawn Reyen's Aurora Singers, with several exchanges with sister city, Albi, France.

He volunteered with "The Bandana Gang" at Filoli and was a docent at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve for several years in Carmel, California. In the last few years, Harry returned to his roots. He devotedly sang "The Lord's Prayer" at Sunday Ecumenical Service at Channing House, where he and Sally lived.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sara "Sally" Jennison; daughters Rebecca Jennison (Nari) of Japan, Kathleen Goonan (Tom) of Maryland, Sara Nebeling (Marcus) of Half Moon Bay and Jody Young (Chris) of Davenport, Iowa; and eight very amazing grandchildren. He was so loved and will be greatly missed.