Dr. Frank J. Boutin

BOUTIN, Sr., Dr. Frank J. Noted Sacramento orthopaedic surgeon, passed away peacefully at his home on November 9, 2013, at the age of 93. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Dr. Boutin was born on June 9, 1920, in Spokane, Washington. He attended Stanford University where he met Charlotte 'Tink' Downey, his wife of 69 years. Dr. Boutin earned his undergraduate degree from Stanford in 1942, enlisted in the Army, and then enrolled in Stanford Medical School, receiving his M.D. in 1946, a profession to which he had aspired since the age of five. He cherished his time at Stanford and the many life-long friendships he made there, and was extremely proud that many of his children and grandchildren also earned degrees from the university. Dr. Boutin served with great distinction at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. As a Captain in the U.S. Army stationed at Walter Reed, he had the honor of accompanying President Harry Truman and then General Dwight D. Eisenhower when they visited wounded troops in the hospital. Following his army service, Dr. Boutin and his family returned to the Bay Area where he served as Chief Resident at both Stanford University Hospital and San Francisco General Hospital. In 1953, the Boutin family moved to Woodland, where Dr. Boutin was the first orthopaedic surgeon at the Woodland Clinic. The family greatly enjoyed their Woodland years. Dr. Boutin was known for making daily house calls on his bicycle, and for his community involvement, including serving on the Woodland School Board. In 1961, the Boutins moved to Sacramento where Dr. Boutin practiced orthopaedics until his retirement in 1990. His retirement was short-lived as he continued to spend time in the operating room assisting younger orthopaedic surgeons into his eighties. By the end of his career he had performed over 35,000 surgeries. Dr. Boutin loved to help sick and injured people and made the time to assist them whether it was late at night or on a Sunday afternoon. He helped create a clinic that offered free care to children with spine deformities, and he served as the Chief Orthopaedic Consultant at Cowell Student Health Center at U.C. Davis (1953-1987) where he enjoyed treating UCD students. Dr. Boutin was on the teaching staff of Stanford University Medical School (1949-1959) and was Clinical Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at U.C. Davis Medical School. He held numerous other positions, including serving as Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Mercy General Hospital, as President of the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the Western Orthopaedic Association, and on the Board of Councilors of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (1975-1981). Dr. Boutin also worked on behalf of the community, including for the Sacramento Rotary Club as Chairman of the Disabled Children Committee and Director of the Board of Trustees. He was a decades-long member of Sacramento Downtown Rotary, where in 1996 he became a Paul Harris Fellow, in recognition of his humanitarian accomplishments. The Arthritis Foundation recognized Dr. Boutin's years of dedication by honoring him with its Humanitarian Award in 1994. He was also a proud member of the Grandfathers' Club. Although dedicated to his work, Dr. Boutin loved spending time with his family and always looked forward to family vacations at the small Sierra town of Strawberry in the early years and Carmel in his later years. He was also a life-long traveler, visiting many countries with his wife and family. In addition to his beloved wife, Tink, Dr. Boutin is survived by his children: Sue Boutin Atkinson, Steve (Linda Thomas), Peter (Suzanne Jones), Don (Elizabeth Zack), Frank, Jr. (Linda Wenker), and Robert (Kristen Olotka); his 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; his sisters, Lois Ladley and Agnes Robinson, and many nieces and nephews. A Funeral Mass was be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, 1040 39th Street, Sacramento on Friday, November 15, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Frank J. Boutin, Sr., M.D. Memorial Fund, UC Davis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (with checks payable to 'UC Regents') sent to Health Sciences Development, 4900 Broadway, Suite 1150, Sacramento, CA 95820; or, the Sacramento Rotary Foundation, Orthopaedically Handicapped Program, in memory of Frank J. Boutin, Sr., M.D., 355 Commerce Circle, Sacramento, CA 95815.