Obituaries/Mervyn T. Purdy, MD

Mervyn T. Purdy, MD

Mervyn Purdy, who practiced medicine in La Cañada for 50 years, died July 3 at the age of 92.

Born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, he graduated in 1939 from Walla Walla College in Washington with a major in accounting. After marrying his college sweetheart Phila Nichols, he moved to California for an accounting job.

He dreamed, however, of a career in medicine and in 1942 with wife and new baby son Gary in tow, he returned to Walla Walla College to take the science courses necessary for medical school.

He attended Loma Linda University from 1943-47, where he was class president for two years. Following graduation he served in the army transport command as a ship doctor and traveled throughout the Pacific and Europe.

Upon completion of his military service in 1949, he moved to La Cañada to practice family medicine. He took the position of physician for the La Cañada Unified School District, a position he held for 36 years.

In 1964 he served as chief of staff of Glendale Adventist Hospital and in the 1980s he was head of the Family Practice Department at Verdugo Hills Hospital. In 2000 he retired after 50 years in medicine, saying how lucky he was to have found a profession that he truly loved.

In his free time, Merv loved time spent with his family water skiing or enjoying a good game of cards, tennis or golf.

Merv is preceded in death by his sons Dennis and Gary and his survived by Phila, his wife of 68 years, daughter Corrine Tomlinson, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Verdugo Hills Hospital Foundation, 1812 Verdugo Blvd., Glendale, CA 91208.

Merv will be honored in a Celebration of Life to be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 2 at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale.