David William Burgan MD

DAVID W. BURGAN, MD, 75, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife and their three daughters in Polson, MT, on Sunday, December 4th, 2011. He died of complications from Pick's Disease - a rare & very aggressive form of frontotemporal dementia. David was born on April 28, 1936, to Oliver Wendell Burgan & Hazel Estelle Dewar Burgan in Helena, Montana where he graduated as Salutatorian of the Helena High School class of 1954. He loved sports, especially baseball, and played Helena Legion Baseball, playing & coaching baseball from grade school thru college. He was a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan (he could get them on the radio in Helena and the players had 'fun' names!) He enjoyed the Spring Training games in the Phoenix, AZ, area'eventually buying a condo after retirement within walking distance of the Cubs Spring Training Facilities where he and Marjorie wintered. One of his most enjoyable weeks was spent at a Chicago Cubs Fantasy Camp at the training facility in Mesa, AZ with Cub players like Ron Santo & Jimmy Piersol in a real Cubs uniform! David attended the University of Washington for 1 year where he made the freshman Baseball Team at U of W. He then transferred to Montana State University in Bozeman where he received a Bachelor of Science degree With Honors in Pre-Med in 1958. David received his M.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1961 graduating in the top 10% of his medical class and was chosen for Alpha Omega Alpha, a medical scholastic honorary. David met Marjorie Lois Carr when he was a Sophomore at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis. He saw her 'across a crowded room' and,uncharacteristically, boldly went up to her in the Theta house and introduced himself!! That was March of 1959. They were married at the First Congregational Church in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, on Father's Day, Sunday, June 19, 1960. David & Marjorie celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2010 by taking the family to Kauai, Hawaii. They were married 51 & 1/2 years. He joined the US Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1960 with the Army Senior Medical program, then took his Internship at William Beaumont Army Hospital in El Paso, TX, 1961-62. David continued to serve in the U.S. Army at Ft. Wainwright & Bassett Army Hospital in Fairbanks, Alaska, from 1962-65. After being Honorably Discharged, David practiced General Medicine at the Doctor's Clinic in Auburn, WA, 1965-67. Then deciding to specialize in Diagnostic Radiology, he took his Residency at Parkland Hospital & the University of Texas SouthWestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, 1967-70. He then was asked to stay & teach Angiography at UTSW Medical School, which he did for 1 year, 1970-71. He was the sole author of 3 papers on knee orthography, 1971. David was Board Certified in Diagnostic Radiology by the American Board of Radiology in 1971. David & Marjorie decided they did not want to raise their 3 daughters in Dallas and the opportunity came to join Missoula Radiology, Inc in 1971, so they were excited to move back to Montana. David practiced Diagnostic Radiology in Missoula from 1971-1994. He was the Chief of the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at Missoula Community Medical Center from 1974-1994. When David retired, he felt very honored to have MCMC name the department in his honor: David W. Burgan, MD Diagnostic Imaging Department. He was a member of the Medical Staffs of Missoula Community Medical Center & St. Patrick's Hospital. David was President of the Medical Staff Missoula Community Medical Center in 1977: President of the Western Montana Medical Society, 1979: Councilor from Montana to the American College of Radiology in 1978 & 1979: Counselor for the State of Montana, Radiologic Society of North America from 1976-80: Member Board of Directors of the Montana Hospital Association, 1992-1995: Member of the Board of Trustees for Missoula Community Medical Center from 1976-2005'and Chairman of MCMC Board, 1996-2005. He was named Montana Hospital Association Health Care Trustee of the Year in 2005. David served on the Monida Health Care Board of Directors from its formation in 1996 to 2009. David was a member of the American College of Radiology: American Institute of UltraSound in Medicine: Society of Radiologists in UltraSound: Society of Breast Imaging: Radiologic Society of North America: American Medical Association: & the Western Montana Medical Society. David was a loyal Montana State University 'Bobcat' through all the years he lived in Missoula - a season ticket holder for the Bobcat football games since 1971, even traveling with the team to Charleston, SC, in 1984 when they won the National Championship! He was President of the Montana State University Alumni Board 1977-79: on the Advisory Council for Montana State University School of Business 1980-84: He established the Watling Pre-Medical Scholarship at MSU in 1976 to honor his pre-med advisor, Prof Harold Watling, while he was still alive. David was asked and became a member of the first Blue & Gold Emeriti Council, 2007, of the MSU Alumni Assoc. David was elected an Elder in the Presbyterian Church in Fairbanks, Alaska, 1964, where he also taught a high school Sunday School class. He served on Presbyterian Church Sessions in Fairbanks and Missoula and served on Pastor Nomination Committees twice. David & Marjorie started an Adult Class called 'The Struggling Believers' at 1st Presbyterian Church in Missoula, which David led year round for 8+yrs'summers they would meet in a park so the children could play while the adults had their class discussions. It had the 'Harbaugh Rule' - no one could be held accountable for their opinion for more than 2 weeks - they were allowed to change their views and grow in their faith and understanding! David & Marjorie were the instigators behind the Missoula affiliate of Habitat For Humanity. David providing the financial & emotional support for Marjorie to use her organizational skills to get it started in Missoula. David was an award winning photographer, had a good eye for composition, and his home is graced with many of his photos. In retirement he enjoyed playing golf - more so when he realized he was never going to be on the PGA tour so he didn't need to keep score! Also in retirement, because he had always liked to sing and had a nice voice, the choir director of Polson's First Presbyterian Church asked him to sing in their choir. Both he and Marjorie joined & enjoyed being a part of the church choirs together in Polson, & in Mesa, AZ in the wintertime. David is survived by his wife, 3 wonderful daughters: Judith Suzanne, Barbara Jean & Ann Katherine: Two fine Sons-in-law: M.A. Scot Moorhead & Keith M. Mellor: & 3 special Grandchildren: Tieran Connor Burgan Moorhead (11), Joshua Gareth Burgan Moorhead (8) & Sydney Katherine Mellor (4): his brother & sister-in-law, Oliver Donald & Jean Burgan, his sisters-in-law: Katherine Roalstad & Cynthia Hardyman, and nieces & nephews. David's parents preceded him in death. David was a generous, kind, honorable and talented Christian man, a lifelong Presbyterian and a Republican in his politics! His 'Words To Live By' were: 'DUTY RESPONSIBILITY INTEGRITY LOYALTY '. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in David's name to: Missoula Community Medical Center Foundation, Montana State University, First Presbyterian Church of Polson - choir, Habitat For Humanity of Missoula, or St. Luke's Hospital Foundation. His memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 10 at 3 pm (after the Bobcat FCS quarter-final football game!) at First Presbyterian Church in Polson. An Internment Service will be held this Spring/Summer for those unable to attend. Messages of condolences may be sent to the family on-line at www.groganfuneralhome.com.
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