John Mathew Tarle

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - John Mathew Tarle M.D. passed away on Feb. 4, 2014, at the age of 84.

He was born in Ironwood, Mich., on Dec. 8, 1929, to parents Anne and Mathew Tarle. John grew up in Ironwood, where he met and married his high school sweetheart and wife of 66 years, Patricia Hamachek.

John Tarle earned his medical degree in 1956 from Marquette University School of Medicine. John completed his residency at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. Upon completion of his naval residency, John moved his family to Los Angeles and joined a pediatric practice in Santa Monica. John dedicated more than 40 years to the care and medical treatment of children until his retirement. His lifetime devotion to children, discipline to the practice of medicine and exceptional diagnostic skills were apparent to all who knew and worked with him.

He was a lasting and memorable presence at St. John's Health Center and the University of California Los Angeles Medical Center. John was a fellow of The American Academy of Pediatrics and was honored by numerous organizations throughout his career, including Phi Chi Medical Fraternity and the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society. Civil service and charitable work were important to John, actively engaging as a member of the Rotary Club of Santa Monica and volunteering at health clinics to provide care to children without access to medical care.

In addition to his distinguished medical career, John is most fondly remembered for being a loving, compassionate and generous man. Together John and Pat devoted their lives selflessly to their six children, guiding them by example, but most of all, showing them through action and deed how very much they were loved.

John is survived by his wife, Patricia, their six children and their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, among numerous other family members. One of six children himself, John is also survived by three sisters.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Anne and Mathew Tarle.

A memorial celebration will be held Sunday, March 16, at 1 p.m. at Gates, Kingsley & Gates, 1925 Arizona Ave., Santa Monica CA 90404, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in John's name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, michaeljfox.org.

John will rest in peace with his preceding family members at Riverside Cemetery in Ironwood.

Perhaps it is most fitting that it is through the eyes of a child we should remember John as family and friends mourn his loss: Don't cry anymore for Grandpa. When you miss him, remember him lovingly, for he is at peace with God. He is holding his head up high now and is walking with the angels. He is with us always, and we will hold him in our hearts forever.