Catlin was born in Portland, Oregon to John and Helen Goss. He and his sisters grew up surrounded by aunts, uncles and many cousins. The family enjoyed camping and fly fishing steeped in stories from the family’s 1846 Oregon Trail crossing. Catlin entered Medical School at OHSU in 1960 [or 1959?] and that year married Alyce Hoyer whom he had met during a summer marine biology course in Coos Bay. Their following years involved raising their young family of three children, Rick, Virginia and Nancy and multiple moves for medical training and practice starting with internship at Ancker Hospital in St. Paul MN, two years as a Navy physician stationed in Guam, then a return to Oregon where he started practice as a family doctor in Molalla. He soon realized his passion for surgery and pursued further training in Portland followed by a three year residency at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle.
After completing surgical training, he worked for a year in Bend, Oregon before moving to Portland where he joined Gordon Grout, MD in practice. In 1984, he moved to Seattle to join Group Health Cooperative. It was at Group Health that he found his greatest satisfaction. He was able to work in the full scope of a general surgical practice at an organization with a mission he valued and he was able to teach -- something he loved. He was revered by his trainees, who gave him a heartfelt and absolutely adorable send-off when he retired. Realizing he wasn’t ready in fact to retire, he returned to work as a surgeon then as a wound care specialist at what was then Steven’s Memorial Hospital where he then completed his career.
All his life, Catlin was known as someone with extraordinary empathy, always gravitating to those who were ill or struggling. He was known for his sense of exploration and adventure combined with his desire to help. His volunteer medical work with Northwest Medical Teams and the University Presbyterian church took him all over the world to India, Bosnia, Haiti and Iraq. It also led him to the homeless shelters and camps of Seattle. He volunteered at the Rotacare clinic in Lake City in his last years of practice. He was an advocate for the AA and Al-Anon programs helping people recover from alcoholism.
Catlin was a very spiritual person. He was always guided by a sense of larger purpose and a sense of human compassion. He was active in his church and treasured the many relationships that he developed there. He encouraged his grandson to walk with him on the Camino de Santiago over the Pyrenees like in the movie “The Way”.
Catlin loved the Northwest and enjoyed reading about the rivers and mountains of Oregon and Washington. We will never forget the camping trips and family road trips of our youth. Hiking on Mount Rainier, sailing in the San Juan Islands, our family road trip up the Cassiar Highway to Alaska, backpacking in the Wallowa Mountains of Oregon and Long’s Peak in Colorado. He taught us about the constellations that we could see brilliantly from our family fishing cabin on the Deschutes River in Oregon. He loved to point out how you could trace the handle of the Big Dipper to Arcturus in the constellation of Bootes.
Catlin loved sailing and skiing. A true athlete, he participated more than once in the Seattle to Portland 200 mile bike ride. He was a Ham Radio operator, WB7NJE. He loved to repair things and was creative with his hands. He was always busy, always wanting to learn new things. He was a great handyman around the house, on his boat, with his car, and all the equipment we used in outdoor activities. In his later days, he enjoyed art and drawing with his hands.
Catlin deeply loved his family. He had a special relationship with each of his grandkids, James Zach, Lily, Anthony and Olivia. He spent his final years in the amazing care of Providence Mount St. Vincent. His smile would light up the room right up until his last days.
Catlin is survived by his children Rick (Nanette), Virginia (Jim) Hale and Nancy, sisters Sue (Jack) Eberhart and Janet Johnson, his former wife Alyce, his grandchildren, extended family, former colleagues and friends.
Should you care to make a contribution in Catlin's memory please consider donations to RotaCare or Medical Teams International. A virtual Celebration of Life will be planned in the near future. Please send an email to JohnCatlinGossMemorial@gmail.com if you'd like to be included.
Dad, your big heart, deep concern for all and awe of the beauty around you will be missed!
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5