Edhat Staff(March 21, 1939 – September 15, 2017)
Surrounded by his adoring family, Jerome Thomas Kay passed away peacefully on September 15, 2017. Jerry was a loving husband, a devoted father and grandfather, a healer and a dear friend.
In 1970 Jerry moved to Santa Barbara with his family and opened his private practice where he served the community practicing family medicine for 47 years. He was deeply respected by his colleagues and beloved by generations of patients for his skill, genuine compassion and profound humility. Jerry developed a close relationship with St. Francis Hospital, where he served as Chief of Staff from 1983 – 1985. He also worked closely with Santa Barbara County Public Health and served as president of the Santa Barbara County Medical Society in 1994. In response to the emergence of Health Maintenance Organizations, and in an effort to preserve independent family doctors and their practices, Jerry founded a physicians group named Central Coast Independent Physicians Association in 1982. This group later changed its name to Santa Barbara Select I.P.A., where Jerry served as Board President until his death. Jerry retired from private practice on July 1, 2015, but continued to guide health care at Val Verde Retirement Community and make meaningful contributions to the community at large.
Read the full obituary here.
