Ira Norman Downer, business manager of Santa Clara County Hospital of 22 years, died yesterday in a San Francisco hospital after a lingering illness.
Downer of 1515 Calaveras Avenue, San Jose, California, retired from his hospital post in April of 1953. He was 71.
The former hospital administrator came to San Jose in 1920, following his retirement from the Army. He had served as an infantry captain during World War I.
In 1922, he married Mary Arnold Goldsmith on January 10.
When he first came here he operated a life insurance office and in 1929 was made a deputy sheriff for the county. He went to work at the hospital in 1933.
On December 8, 1941, Downer volunteered for active duty and served as a captain in the Army Medical Administrative Corps. He returned to the hospital on October 1, 1944.
He was a founding member and first president of the Society of Western Hospitals, and was a member of the American College of Hospital Administrators.
A graduate of Cornell University, he had been active in encouraging colleges and universities to offer courses and degrees in the field of hospital administration.
Downer was past exalted ruler and a 41 year member of the San Jose Elks Lodge; a 45 year member of San Jose Lodge 10, F&AM, and formerly a member of the West San Jose Rotary Club.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary A. Downer of San Jose; his daughter, Mrs. Mary Jane Spence of San Jose; sisters, Mrs. Ralph (Naomi) Church of New Jersey and Mrs. Robert (Ruth) Luce of Pennsylvania; and grandchildren, Kerry Michael Spence and Merrilee Jane "Honey" Spence.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the John E. Dowdle Mortuary, under the auspices of San Jose Lodge 522, BPOE. Private interment will follow.
Information provided by grandson, Kerry Michael Spence.
Downer of 1515 Calaveras Avenue, San Jose, California, retired from his hospital post in April of 1953. He was 71.
The former hospital administrator came to San Jose in 1920, following his retirement from the Army. He had served as an infantry captain during World War I.
In 1922, he married Mary Arnold Goldsmith on January 10.
When he first came here he operated a life insurance office and in 1929 was made a deputy sheriff for the county. He went to work at the hospital in 1933.
On December 8, 1941, Downer volunteered for active duty and served as a captain in the Army Medical Administrative Corps. He returned to the hospital on October 1, 1944.
He was a founding member and first president of the Society of Western Hospitals, and was a member of the American College of Hospital Administrators.
A graduate of Cornell University, he had been active in encouraging colleges and universities to offer courses and degrees in the field of hospital administration.
Downer was past exalted ruler and a 41 year member of the San Jose Elks Lodge; a 45 year member of San Jose Lodge 10, F&AM, and formerly a member of the West San Jose Rotary Club.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary A. Downer of San Jose; his daughter, Mrs. Mary Jane Spence of San Jose; sisters, Mrs. Ralph (Naomi) Church of New Jersey and Mrs. Robert (Ruth) Luce of Pennsylvania; and grandchildren, Kerry Michael Spence and Merrilee Jane "Honey" Spence.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the John E. Dowdle Mortuary, under the auspices of San Jose Lodge 522, BPOE. Private interment will follow.
Information provided by grandson, Kerry Michael Spence.
Ira Norman Downer, business manager of Santa Clara County Hospital of 22 years, died yesterday in a San Francisco hospital after a lingering illness.
Downer of 1515 Calaveras Avenue, San Jose, California, retired from his hospital post in April of 1953. He was 71.
The former hospital administrator came to San Jose in 1920, following his retirement from the Army. He had served as an infantry captain during World War I.
In 1922, he married Mary Arnold Goldsmith on January 10.
When he first came here he operated a life insurance office and in 1929 was made a deputy sheriff for the county. He went to work at the hospital in 1933.
On December 8, 1941, Downer volunteered for active duty and served as a captain in the Army Medical Administrative Corps. He returned to the hospital on October 1, 1944.
He was a founding member and first president of the Society of Western Hospitals, and was a member of the American College of Hospital Administrators.
A graduate of Cornell University, he had been active in encouraging colleges and universities to offer courses and degrees in the field of hospital administration.
Downer was past exalted ruler and a 41 year member of the San Jose Elks Lodge; a 45 year member of San Jose Lodge 10, F&AM, and formerly a member of the West San Jose Rotary Club.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary A. Downer of San Jose; his daughter, Mrs. Mary Jane Spence of San Jose; sisters, Mrs. Ralph (Naomi) Church of New Jersey and Mrs. Robert (Ruth) Luce of Pennsylvania; and grandchildren, Kerry Michael Spence and Merrilee Jane "Honey" Spence.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the John E. Dowdle Mortuary, under the auspices of San Jose Lodge 522, BPOE. Private interment will follow.
Information provided by grandson, Kerry Michael Spence.
Downer of 1515 Calaveras Avenue, San Jose, California, retired from his hospital post in April of 1953. He was 71.
The former hospital administrator came to San Jose in 1920, following his retirement from the Army. He had served as an infantry captain during World War I.
In 1922, he married Mary Arnold Goldsmith on January 10.
When he first came here he operated a life insurance office and in 1929 was made a deputy sheriff for the county. He went to work at the hospital in 1933.
On December 8, 1941, Downer volunteered for active duty and served as a captain in the Army Medical Administrative Corps. He returned to the hospital on October 1, 1944.
He was a founding member and first president of the Society of Western Hospitals, and was a member of the American College of Hospital Administrators.
A graduate of Cornell University, he had been active in encouraging colleges and universities to offer courses and degrees in the field of hospital administration.
Downer was past exalted ruler and a 41 year member of the San Jose Elks Lodge; a 45 year member of San Jose Lodge 10, F&AM, and formerly a member of the West San Jose Rotary Club.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary A. Downer of San Jose; his daughter, Mrs. Mary Jane Spence of San Jose; sisters, Mrs. Ralph (Naomi) Church of New Jersey and Mrs. Robert (Ruth) Luce of Pennsylvania; and grandchildren, Kerry Michael Spence and Merrilee Jane "Honey" Spence.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the John E. Dowdle Mortuary, under the auspices of San Jose Lodge 522, BPOE. Private interment will follow.
Information provided by grandson, Kerry Michael Spence.
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