Dr. George Clarence Sjolund, Jr.

November 4th, 1934-

January 29th, 2025

Dr. George Clarence Sjolund, Jr., physician, husband, father, and veteran, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, at the age of 90.

He was born in Norwalk, CT on November 4th, 1934.

George received his undergrad at Tufts University Medford, MA. He graduated from University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1965, and completed his residency in 1969. He also completed a Masters of Public Administration at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, in 1984.

He served on active duty in the U.S. Army in the 1950s. 

George had 4 children with his first wife, Patty. He is survived by 3 of his 4 children and his current wife, Dionne, of Altadena, CA.

His medical career began in psychiatry at Tidewater Psychiatric Institute in Virginia Beach, VA, for which he ran experimental studies and practiced psychiatry. Prior to the establishment of Emergency Medicine as its own specialty, George also provided care as an Emergency Room provider at Virginia Beach General Hospital. In 1978 he took the reins of the Health Department in Virginia Beach, VA and served as director for a number of years.

George retired from the health department and moved to Creswell, OR, in the early 1990's. There, he grew and maintained hundreds of roses in his rose garden until he moved to Eugene around the year 2000. His rose garden was a private work of art where sweet aromas captured your attention. Variegated blooms of peach and soft white petals or tight folds of purple petals caught the eye; the elegance of tea roses; the primitive, yet lovely scrub roses with thistle-like thorns and open blooms that sent off a sweet, floral scent; Small brooks flowed, winding between the beds. It awakened the senses in a primitive setting filled with delicate blooms. It was a sanctuary that awakened peace and awe.

George was known for his encyclopedic knowledge of plants. His daughter recalled that on walks in the woods with him at Mt Pisgah Arboretum near Eugene, OR, when asked, he would name myriad plants- Trillium tucked into woods, fields of blue camas, hounds tongue lily along waterways, madrone leaning on dry hillsides, incense cedar, western red cedar, waterleaf; point to it and he could name it. He also served as a Master Gardner for the OSU Extension service, answering caller questions.

George rekindled a relationship with his college sweetheart, Dionne. Many years had passed since their days at Tufts University. Dionne had raised a family of 6. 

He converted to Catholicism when he and Dionne reunited. They spent the past 12 years as devoted congregants to St Mary's Catholic Church in Eugene. Church members describe them as a devout, faithful, and delightful couple to spend time with.

In late 2024, George moved to Altadena, CA, with his wife, Dionne, to be closer to her family. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer and was placed on hospice care in late January 2025 and passed on January 29th.

He is survived by 3 of his 4 children; Kevin of Virginia Beach, VA, Karl of Sewanee, TN, and  Karen of Portland, OR. His oldest son, Michael, passed in 2003. He also has two grandchildren, Berkley Dixon of Raleigh, NC, and Hannah Paisley of Sarasota, FL, and his great-grandson, George Dixon, of Raleigh, NC. He was predeceased by his mother, Mary Sjolund; His father, George C. Sjolund; His brother, Edgar Sjolund; and as noted, his son, Michael Sjolund.

A memorial will held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Eugene, OR on Thursday, March 13th. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a charity of choice in George’s memory.