.

IN MEMORIAM

(May 24, 1937 - April 10, 2008)

Peter Brill's bio in Panther Tracks 1955 reads: "Pete was known for his scholastic ability, friendly personality, and red hair. Pete was active in the Science Club, French Club, Latin Club, Scholarship Society, Drama Commission, Junior Statesmen, Future Teachers of America, and in the term play "Barchester Towers." His pet peeve is snooty people. Pete's secret ambition is to be a rocket pilot, but his real desire is to be a doctor. He plans to attend Cal."

In real life, Pete is now Dr. Peter Brill, M.D. He has had a general practice in Dos Palos for many years. Peter graduated from the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine in 1963. He has been board certified as a physician and surgeon since 1965.

Little is known of his undergraduate education, work or family, but Internet notes indicate he has served as Team Physician for the Dos Palos High School broncos football team.

Included among the Merced County Year 2005 Volunteer Recognition Recipients is Dr. Peter Brill. His citation reads: "Dr. Brill has volunteered in the position of Chief of Staff (15 years) and Medical Director of the Skilled Nursing Unit (11 years) for the Dos Palos Memorial Hospital. Dr. Brill is also recognized by the Dos Palos High School for providing “free” physicals for the past 38 years to many of our youth and high school athletes, and cheerleaders. Dr. Brill continues to give countless hours of his time, energy and talent to the hospital staff, as well as to the school district, and the community."

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Following story of Peter Brill's life was found on the internet on September 23, 2006. The URL was
http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Brill_Peter_750715130.aspx

The story in the above URL was originally published at:
www.losbanosenterprise.com/local/story/10337319p-11143104c.html, and
www.mercedsun-star.com/local/story/10331141p-11137617c.html

The text has been formatted but not changed.

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Peter Brill has spent nearly four decades taking care of the people of Dos Palos. Brill has also made a point of providing lost cost physical examinations for the area's young people who want to take part in athletics, most notably, the Dos Palos High School football team. GEORGE MACDONALD/MERCED SUN-STAR

Peter W. Brill knew when he was 13 years old that someday he'd be a doctor. Where and how he would practice, he never would have guessed.

Brill, 67, has served as the doctor for the Dos Palos High School football team since 1967, when he and his wife, Penny, moved to town. He's made room on the sidelines for students of low-income families by giving free physicals to athletes.

Away from the sidelines, he's worked at Dos Palos Memorial Hospital and has watched over hundreds of patients as a family practitioner.

The Merced County Board of Supervisors presented Brill with a certificate of recognition last Tuesday. In late March, about 50 people gathered in Dos Palos for a reception in his honor. But while others are quick to praise the good doctor, Brill is hesitant to talk about his accomplishments. "I'm my own boss, but I do what God tells me to do," he said at his home Sunday.

Brill's passion for family practice was born at a young age. His father, who died at age 54 from an undetected, perforated ulcer, was treated previously for several other health problems. "I really admired the doctors," Brill said. "The doctors saved his life many times."

However, medical school isn't cheap, and it wasn't when Brill was young, either. His family was poor, and he needed money. All seven medical schools he applied to accepted him, but the only school he could afford to attend was University of California at San Francisco. With the help of a small scholarship, he saved money through different jobs to pay his tuition. One of his jobs was as a doorman at a women's gym.

Ironically, his drive to be a family practitioner only wavered while he was in medical school. Faculty urged students to specialize, not practice general medicine. So, Brill began studying to be an obstetrician, to deliver babies.

After graduating in 1963, though, he spent two years near Seattle, Wash., as a doctor at a Navy base. He dealt with countless people in countless situations -- much like a family practitioner would -- and resumed chasing his childhood dream. He wound up in Dos Palos in 1967, taking over a doctor's office that was about to be shut down. "We took over the accounts receivable, and that financed us," Brill said.

It didn't take long for Brill to learn some important facts of Dos Palos life. For starters, everyone loves Broncos football. He remembers the fourth game of his first season as team doctor, when the team lost to Chowchilla. "I thought somebody had died," Brill said. "The town was so upset."

Brill also realized many Dos Palos residents are poor. "The hospital didn't pay us, and patients paid us when they could," said Brill, who spent more than 20 years working in the Dos Palos Memorial Hospital emergency room. "A lot of patients went to the emergency room because they couldn't pay."

To help make it easier for students of low-income families to play sports, Brill started setting aside one day each year to give free physicals to student athletes. It's a tradition he's never broken, even after an illness left him in and out of the hospital, and in a wheelchair, for much of last year. On other days, he offers $10 physicals for student athletes. He puts the money into a scholarship fund called the Harry and Leona Inge Medical Memorial, named after his wife's parents. The scholarships go to local high school graduates who are headed to medical school.

"Football is something the whole town rallies around, so it's easy to support," Brill said. "It's a contribution I can make, and I'm the only doctor, so it makes sense, doesn't it?"

Brill still sees up to 35 patients each day, four days a week. Most come to his office, but he also makes the occasional home visit. He's loved his life in Dos Palos, and fondly looks back on his memories as team doctor for the Broncos. And he's not done yet. "I intend to practice until the Lord takes me home," Brill said.