George Rhyneer

Jun 1, 1938 -

Jun 29, 2024

George Samuel Rhyneer, M.D., son, brother, cousin, dad, grandpa, physician, husband and friend, quietly passed away at his home on June 29, 2024.

George was the elder of two children born to Sam and Bernice Rhyneer on June 1, 1938, in Glasgow, Mont. War time construction projects took the family from Montana through Oak Ridge, Tenn., to Richland, Wash., where George was raised and attended high school. Although drawn to the physical sciences, it was an after-school job performing laboratory tests and acting as an assistant to a family doctor in Richland that triggered George's interest in medicine.

George attended the University of Washington in Seattle, followed by medical school and training in internal medicine at the University of Chicago School of Medicine. He then joined the United States Public Health Service where he had the most good fortune to be assigned to Alaska as the primary tuberculosis control officer for the state. Accompanied by first wife, LaVonne, and their three small sons, a life of Alaska adventures began.

After two years of Public Health Service, George completed a fellowship in cardiology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. George and family, with the addition of a baby daughter, happily returned to Alaska. Excited to be "working at last," he partnered with James Baldauf, M.D., thus growing the population of cardiologists in the state from one to two. Together they developed the first cardiac catheterization laboratory, soon followed by the open-heart surgical program; Alaskans no longer needed to travel out of state for cardiac care. Out of these small beginnings eventually grew the Alaska Heart Institute we know today.

During the mid-1990s, George and his associates became concerned about the negative effects that pure business decisions were having on the delivery of medical care. Under his leadership a large group of doctors joined together to form Alaska Physicians and Surgeons to more effectively promote physician directed, patient orientated, scientific and cost-effective medicine in Alaska. The group was instrumental in drafting and ushering into law the "patient bill of rights" and "prompt payment" pieces of legislation.

As Alaska's aging population grew, a need arose for greater access to primary care physicians for Medicare patients. Working alongside others to help address this need, George spearheaded development of the Alaska Medicare Clinic.

George's greatest delight in being a physician was his patients. He relished traveling around the state, from Nome to Homer, to work in clinics. George bookended his medical career by assisting in the cardiology clinic at Alaska Native Medical Center. George's devotion to his patients perhaps is best summed up in this promise he offered those in his care: "You are not alone. We will not abandon you."

George retired from medical practice at the age of 79, however he sustained his attention toward supporting the lives of others. Participating with concerned members of Anchorage Faith & Action Congregations Together, now known as the Justice Organizing Interfaith Network, he joined their efforts to ease the needs of those in our community who live without homes.

George is survived by his wife, Marilyn McKay; children, Dana and wife Madeleine, Loren and wife Tara, George and wife Amy, and Barbara Rhyneer and husband Tim DeMarte; their mother, LaVonne Rhyneer; stepsons, Jason Miller and wife Madalena, and Chris Miller; and grandchildren, Silas and Claire Rhyneer, Eamonn and Amelie DeMarte and Unah Miller. He was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Jean Ownbey.

George often spoke in wonder and gratitude about his luck: for the family he loved and cared for, for friends who shared wilderness adventures and so, so many stories, and for patients' trust and confidence. It is written that "three things remain, faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love." It is love given and received that sustained the life of this man. May we celebrate George's life now by "entering each day with a generous heart and serving the call of courage and love in our own lives."

Family and friends will gather for a funeral service at Central Lutheran Church, 1420 Cordova Street in Anchorage, on July 13, 2024, at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Lutheran Social Services, 1303 W. 33rd Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99503; or In Our Backyard, inourbackyard-ak.org.