Dianne M. Winne MD's Obituary
DIANNE M. WINNE, M.D.
June 2, 1956 – May 11, 2017
Born in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1956, Dianne M. Winne died at St. Mary’s Hospital in San Francisco on May 11, 2017 following an extended illness. Her ashes will be interned in the Chapel of the Chimes Columbarium in Oakland, California. Hundreds gathered for her Memorial Service held on June 3, 2017 at her church, Plymouth UCC, 424 Monte Vista, Oakland. Dianne Winne is survived by her wife, Rev. Sandy Gess, and their son, Jason Peter Winne-Gess of Oakland.
Dianne Winne graduated from Carson High School, Carson City, Nevada in 1974. As a student, she worked as a candystriper at Carson City Hospital; then a scribe; and nurse’s aid. She credits this early experience with her ability to work collaboratively with all levels of hospital staff, the empathy she had with her patients, and her ability to respond to all their needs.
In 1978, Dianne graduated from the University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) with a degree in Pre-Med. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, Beta Mu Chapter. Before being admitted to UNR’s Medical School, she attended the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua Medicina, 1978-80 where she had the honor of teaching the Histology Lab / Laboratorio de HistologÃa. She returned to the states fluent in Spanish. She liked to credit the excellence she achieved at UNR’s Medical School with the extraordinary medical education she received in Chihuahua. Dr. Winne graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, Medical School in 1984.
In 1984 Dr. Winne moved with her spouse to the Bay Area for a medical internship and subsequent fellowship (until 1987) at the Veteran’s Hospital in Martinez, Ca. Dr. Winne was double boarded in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics. She served as the Director of Ambulatory Care at the California Veterans’ Home in Yountville, California beginning in 1987. Her career lasted for 30 years. In 2015 she had to go out on disability retirement.
Dr. Winne’s passion was practicing geriatric medicine. She would often say, “The older they are, the better I like ‘em.” She was dearly loved by her patients and their families in addition to the entire staff at Yountville.
Dianne and family lived in the Glenview District of Oakland where she co-founded with neighbors the “Junta de Muejeres” Book Group. She loved a good mystery, especially if written by women.
Dianne was a Co-founder of Weave of Faith, Christian-Feminist Worshipping Community at Lake Merritt UMC, Oakland where she was the communion bread baker (http://home.earthlink.net/~sjgess/).
Dianne is remembered as a lively and engaged teacher not only in her profession, but as a volunteer. When her spouse, Rev Sandy Gess, was the pastor St Paul’s UMC, Vacaville, Dianne was their dedicated Sunday School teacher and drama coach. When Dianne & Sandy’s son was a student at Montclair Elementary School, Oakland, Dianne was the Volunteer Parent Science teacher for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes.
Dianne loved: gardening; traveling; cross-country skiing; her beloved Lake Tahoe; Rodeo Beach; zoos; museums (especially De Young and the Palace of Fine Arts); San Francisco Giants; a good glass of wine; dancing swing with her spouse; music nights in their Oakland home; her family in Oakland, Carson City, and New Zealand. She admired Martin Luther King, Jr; She had an under-rated tenor voice, a captivating smile and a good laugh. She leaves many friends, colleagues, neighbors, church families, book group, patients and countless others whose lives she touched.
Dr. Dianne Winne is also survived by her mother, Doris Winne; brother, Don Winne, Jr (wife’s name).; and sister, Debbie Winne Jeppson (husband’s name), all of Carson City, Nevada; brother, David Winne (Andy) of Lake Tahoe, Nevada; niece Jenae Jeppson Schroeder and her family, Lauren Winne; and nephews Grant Jeppson and Donald P. Winne.
The Winne-Gess Family Trust has established as her living legacy – the Dianne M. Winne MD Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Geriatrics — at her alma mater, University of Nevada, Reno Medical School — in conjunction with Sanford Center on Aging (https://med.unr.edu/aging). Contributions may be made out to UNR Foundation with the memo Dianne M. Winne MD Memorial Scholarship-Geriatrics and mailed to : University of Nevada, Reno Foundation – Morrill Hall – 1664 N. Virginia Street – Reno, NV 89557-0162. Email for more info: [email protected].
What’s your fondest memory of Dianne?
What’s a lesson you learned from Dianne?
Share a story where Dianne's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Dianne you’ll never forget.
How did Dianne make you smile?