Thursday, March 28, 2024

Tribute Party To Celebrate Dr. Dill

Dr. Donald Dill, Coronado’s legendary small town doctor, will be honored at a community tribute Thursday, June 30, at the Coronado Yacht Club.
Dr. Donald Dill, Coronado’s legendary small town doctor, will be honored at a community tribute Thursday, June 30, at the Coronado Yacht Club.

He was Coronado’s small town doctor for more than half a century. He made house calls sporting an enormous black beard, and driving in an exotic Excalibur car. He regularly donated his own time and money to help make Coronado a better place.

Dr. Donald Dill retired from medical practice on Dec. 31, 2015. He had been Coronado’s doctor since 1961 – long before the Coronado Bridge, when trips to the mainland involved a slow ferryboat ride across San Diego Bay.

Dr. Dill, holding a scale model replica of his Excalibur car. Photo by Joe Ditler.
Dr. Dill, holding a scale model replica of his Excalibur car. Photo by Joe Ditler.

A tribute party is scheduled to honor Dr. Dill Thursday, June 30, at the Coronado Yacht Club. The event will be from 5-9 p.m. and offer appetizers, dessert, a no-host bar, and dancing to the West Coast Ironworks. Dress is casual nice.

“We’re planning a lovely, elegant event for Dr. Dill,” said Corinne Coury, event organizer. “Many people have already sent us their stories of how he came through for them. Now it’s our turn to show him how much he has meant to us.”

Don Dill and his lovely wife Christine.
Don Dill and his lovely wife Christine.

A handful of people will stand and pay homage to Dr. Dill that evening and many special memories will be circulating throughout the crowd. If you would like to tell your story, please let Corinne know, as speakers will be selected in advance. Any money raised in excess of event costs will be donated to a charity of Dr. Dill’s choice.

Dr. Don Dill delivered more than 2,000 babies and helped more than 100,000 people on the island with their medical needs. He made many lifelong friends along the way, some actually becoming fourth generation patients.

The infamous Excalibur that Dr. Don Dill made house calls in for many years. The car, and the Luden Brothers-like beard were his trademarks, and only served to endear him to his patients.
The infamous Excalibur that Dr. Don Dill made house calls in for many years. The car, and the Smith Brothers-like beard were his trademarks, and only served to endear him to his patients.

Before.LoRes

To avoid charging an admission for this tribute, donations are being sought. You can make donations by mailing a check or going online to the GoFundMe account. Donations of any amount are appreciated, however, they need to be received by June 15. Please make checks payable to Corinne Coury and note “Dr. Dill Tribute” on the subject line.

To support the tribute party for Dr. Don Dill, visit the GoFundMe account.
Remember, all donations must be received by June 15.

Not only was Dr. Dill a great doctor, he was a philanthropist, he worked with children on the island to introduce them to sports, and, as is evidenced by this photo, was a handsome and classy man with a terrific sense of humor.
Not only was Dr. Dill a great doctor, he was a philanthropist, he worked with children on the island to introduce them to sports, and, as is evidenced by this photo, was a handsome and classy man with a terrific sense of humor.

Also, many have asked where to mail their special notes to Dr. Dill. Please send your cards, stories, accolades, anecdotes or photographs to Corinne at either of the addresses below. A scrapbook will be created to present to Dr. Dill during the event.

For more information, visit the Dr. Don Dill Party Page on Facebook,
or the GoFundMe page

To volunteer for the event, contact Coury at [email protected],
or (619) 204-6831.
Checks may be mailed to Corinne Coury, P.O. Box 181586, Coronado, CA 92178.

Dr. Dill, with the author, at a recent lunch at Coronado Brigantine.
Dr. Dill, with the author, reunited after years, at a recent lunch at the Coronado Brigantine. “I’ll never forget the joy Dr. Dill brought to my ailing father,” said Joe Ditler. “He was and is a caring, sensitive man who gave it all for us. My late father got a real kick out of Don’s house calls in that Excalibur. He would diagnose my dad, and then they would sit and talk for long periods of time. It was a different era, a different kind of doctor, and we are all fortunate to have had him there watching out for us for so many, many years.”

 

 

 

 

 

 



Joe Ditler
Joe Ditler
Joe Ditler is a professional writer, publicist and Coronado historian. Formerly a writer with the Los Angeles Times, he has been published in magazines and newspapers throughout North America and Europe. He also owns Part-Time PR (a subsidiary of Schooner or Later Promotions), specializing in helping Coronado businesses reach larger audiences with well-placed public relations throughout the greater San Diego County. He writes obituaries and living-obituaries under the cover "Coronado Storyteller." To find out more, write or call [email protected], or (619) 742-1034.

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