Dr. Ronald Paul Converse M.D., J.D.

Ron was born to Paul and Marian Converse on December 30, 1940, in Santa Monica, CA. He graduated from University High School, Los Angeles in 1958. He attended UCLA where he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma and received a bachelor’s degree in zoology in 1963. While a student there, he worked as an orderly at Santa Monica Hospital, where he met Alice Rydgren, who was an X-ray technician. They were married in 1965 and had three children. Ron became Dr. Converse when he graduated from UCSF School of Medicine in 1967. He joined the U.S. Navy the same year, serving during the Vietnam War.

Dr. Converse completed his internship at Balboa Naval Hospital, then served as Chief Medical Officer on the USS Dixie. In 1974 he received a law degree from the University of San Diego, where he also wrote for the San Diego Law Review. He was a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve while working for Kaiser Permanente for 10 years, then started a private family practice in East County San Diego. Dr. Converse was passionate about his work as a family physician, so that is where he spent the remainder of his career.

He loved his family dearly, enjoyed writing poetry, creating pen and ink drawings, and attending plays, musical performances, and sporting events.

Dr. Converse is survived by his wife of 56 years, Alice; his daughter, Alyssa Navapanich; two sons, Brad and Charles Converse; grandchildren Alyssa, Zoë, Alec, Ian, and Yuuki; brother Douglas (Loovie), a sister, and two nieces.

A private ceremony will be held at Miramar National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Dr. Converse's honor to Grossmont Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 158, La Mesa, CA 91944.