Henry Paul Lo Guercio

Dr. Henry Paul Lo Guercio passed away on the evening of Dec. 27, 2003 at Alderson’s Convalescent Hospital in Woodland. Although disabled from a stroke since 1977, he died unexpectedly of natural causes. Born on November 12, 1923, in New York City, New York, he was 80 years old.

Dr. Lo Guercio attended Bordentown Military Institute in Bordentown, New Jersey from elementary school through high school, graduating in 1941. Following graduation, he underwent military training at Plattsburg Military Base in New York, attended Rutgers University in New Jersey for one year, and then relocated with his family to Southern California. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II, completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and entered into active military service as a 2nd lieutenant in May 1943, serving as an infantry unit commander. He fought in France in the Battle of Normandy. For his service, he earned a European Theater of Operations Ribbon with one Bronze Star. He was honorably discharged from the army in February 1945.

Following a year of hospitalization and rehabilitation for shell shock, he returned to Southern California and worked in his father’s grocery store until enrolling at UCLA as a pre-med student. He received his medical degree in 1956 from the UCLA College of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons. He and his wife, Dr. Jean Lo Guercio, relocated to Sacramento in the late 1950s and went into private practice together, he as a general practictioner and she as a pediatrician. They relocated their practice and residence to Carmichael in the 1960s. Dr. Henry Lo Guercio was a former president of the Sacramento Medical Society.

An injury following a fall from a horse left Dr. Lo Guercio unable to practice medicine in the early 1970s. In 1977, he suffered a cerebral aneurism, from which he was completely disabled. His wife died suddenly from the same affliction in 1986, after which time he relocated to Woodland, where he has lived ever since.

Known simply as “Doc” to many of his friends, he was an avid horse racing fan and loved country music, fishing and gardening. As a physician, he put principal before profit and sought to provide medical care to anyone who needed it, regardless of their ability to pay, a philosophy shared by his wife.

He is survived by his daughters, Debra Lo Guercio of Winters and Susan Lo Guercio of Santa Monica; grandchildren, Jimmy Ramos of San Luis Obispo and Janine Ramos of Winters, and their father, Jim Ramos, of Winters; mother, Alma Lo Guercio of Santa Maria; brother and sister-in-law Peter and Marilyn Lo Guercio of Santa Maria; nephews Bert Lo Guercio of Tujunga and Steven Lo Guercio of Camarillo; nieces Lisa McMartin of Canyon Country and Cheryl McGinty of Shell Beach; numerous cousins, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bert Lo Guercio.

Funeral services will be held on , at , at . Dr. Lo Guercio will be buried at the Winters Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Stroke Association, 9707 E. Easter Lane, Englewood, CO 80112; the American Stroke Association, www.strokeassociation-donate.org/; or the Winters Healthcare Foundation, 7 Main Street, Winters CA, 95694.

Smith’s Colonial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.