In memory of
Dr. Donald Bovet

"Dr. Don" was born in Schenectady, lived there throughout his childhood and later attended St. Lawrence University. He went on to Medical school at the University of Rochester. That is where he met Zoe Batsleer, who was in nursing school.

Don and Zoe were married on May 15, 1936 at St. Gregory's Catholic Church in Marion. After that, they settled in Marion and, as Don often put it, "She brought me home to meet mother and I never left!"

Don started his medical practice in Marion. Their first house was on the corner of Mill and South Main Streets. After their first two children, Jeanne and Jackie, Don and Zoe soon realized that this house would be too small for their growing family. In 1940 they bought the large brick house at 3721 South Main Street. This home was much larger and Dr. Don was able to design his own office, which is still intact.

November 13, 1909 - August 4, 1998             

In 1942, Don was called into service for World War II. He started his training at Camp Blackstrom, Virginia and was then transferred to Camp VanDorn in Mississippi. In February, be was taken as a medical officer to Iran where he was stationed for two years. After that, he was taken to China where he stayed until the Atom bomb was dropped on Japan.

One of his happier memories of the war came one day when food rations were handed out. Many cans of cherries were included in the shipment. Someone called out to him: "Hey Don, does this can look familiar?" Don looked at the can for a moment and soon saw that the enclosed cherries were grown and processed in Marion.

After WWII Don came back to Marion to restart his practice. He returned to his position as school physician and Health Officer for the towns of Marion and Walworth. He once noted some changes upon his return: "In the old days, before the war, I examined every kid every year," he said, "That's when there were 70 doctors in the county. After the war, there were only 35 and it was decided that the kids had to be examined every two or three years, or before participating in athletics."

After the war, Don and Zoe had two more children, Judy and John. Despite their busy lives, Don and Zoe always made time for their children. There were always hikes and bike rides with the kids. They often ended with bacon cooked over a campfire for lunch.

One of the brands of medicine for which Don was famous for was house calls. For him, house calls were no superfluous amenity or quaint country custom; they're good medicine. "I can tell you one thing," he said, "Until you've seen a person in his home, you don't know him. Until you walk into his home and see what it is, how it is, you don't know him very well at all and there's a blank area in the doctor's knowledge." Don recalled that the total cost of delivering a baby and six weeks of after care was $25.

Don loved music and he played in the Penfield Symphony and Finger Lakes Symphony orchestras for many years He played the violin and the viola.

He was a charter member of the Marion Rotary club and he enjoyed writing skits for their annual play. He also enjoyed leading the singing at weekly meetings.

Don once had a sign in his office that read: If I can't help you, you ain't got it! Being a country doctor meant he had to do everything from wax in the ears to fractures, checkups on the elderly, children's immunizations and physicals for the school district. Former school superintendent Barrie Fleegel remembered the time a child was rollerskating at school and she fell and broke her arm. "Don asked me to come down and help him," he said. "He showed me how to take and develop the X-Rays. Then we found the break and when he set it, I helped to make the cast. It was an experience that I'll never forget."

In 1991, Don decided not to renew his medical license. So, on December 31, 1991, Dr. Don ended his 55-year career as doctor for the town of Marion.

In the following years, Don kept busy with many hobbies including biking, skiing, archery, and photography. He was also active in the Marion Historicai Society. Don was a Stephen Minister at St. Gregory's Church, which he attended for 62 years.

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