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Obituary

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John Donch

Former Los Gatos resident John Joseph Donch died April 12 at the age of 69.

Donch was born in West Haven, Conn., on Nov. 14, 1929. He received a bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University and a doctorate from Columbia University. As a doctor of microbial genetics, he served as the director of research at the Palo Alto Medical Research Foundation and at Bacti Laboratories for a total of 39 years. He was also a lecturer on microbiology at Stanford University and a professor of microbiology at West Valley College. A member of the American Scientific Society and the Smithsonian Institute, Donch was the author of 350 published research papers in the field of microbiology.

During the Korean War, Donch served in the U.S. Air Force. A nature and animal lover, he was also an avid amateur astronomer and loved cooking. He lived in Los Gatos from 1969 to 1986, at which time he moved to Palo Alto.

Survivors include daughters and sons-in-law Alicia Anne and David Kiegelis of Prunedale and Colette Cathleen and Dan Perreten of Winter Spring, Fla.; daughters Evyan Elizabeth Donch of Rome, Italy and Peri Pauleen Donch of Los Angeles; grandchildren Elliott and Natallie; sister Dolores Nigretti of Pembroke Pines, Fla., and mother Marcella Piazza Donch of West Haven, Conn.

Memorial services have been held. Donations may be made to the Donch Kiegelis Ranch, 587 Echo Valley Road, Prunedale, 93907.

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