Oct. 3, 1924 — July 19, 2012

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” — A. A. Milne.

We said goodbye to B. Gregory Isenhart, aka Clyde A. Isenhart, in Davis on July 19, 2012. He was predeceased by his life partner, Bert W. Pratt in 2001, by his parents, Maria T. and Clyde T. Isenhart, by his brothers John B. and Howard C. Isenhart and by his sister Katherine Merkl (nee Isenhart).

He is survived by his longtime friends, Allen, Joe, Dave, Buzz, the Burgers, Mark…, by his much-loved niece, Laurel, and his nieces and nephews in Colorado and Texas. He will be long remembered by the many people lucky enough to know him, as well as by the wild turkeys of Davis Cemetery, which he could never get enough of — nor they he.

Greg was born in Denver on Oct. 3, 1924. He graduated from Holy Family High School (Denver) in ’42 and immediately joined the Alexian Brothers, completing his vows in ’50. (And now you know what the “B.” stood for: Brother Gregory.) In 1952, he graduated from their Chicago nursing school, becoming an Illinois R.N. in ’54. Soon thereafter, he was administering at Boys Town Clinic in Boys Town, Neb.

A few years later, he returned to A.B. Hospital as director of nursing, rising to the post of administrator. During this time, he was charged with building a new hospital in Elk Grove, Ill. Upon opening in May 1966, he became St. Alexius Hospital’s first administrator. Once the hospital was established, he returned to Boys Town Clinic to oversee emergency and out-patient services. A year later, he was sent to supervise A.B.H. in San Jose until 1973, when he became the first provincial archivist, Alexian Bros. of America (Chicago).

Greg left the order and moved to Davis in 1975 to be with Bert, whom he’d met in Chicago. He took a job with Davis Community Hospital, once again moving up to administrator. In the late ’70s, he was active in Dignity Sacramento (St. Francis of Assisi), campaigning for domestic partner benefits, and providing hospice care to AIDS patients. At the turn of the century, he chaired the Alexian Brothers Alumni Association and published its Alomner II newsletter for several years. Ultimately, he dedicated himself to being his gentle self.

At his request, there will be no service. Greg will be scattered in private beside Bert. All who loved him will share a very long, hard goodbye, indeed.

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