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Herb Peterson depended on Sansum Clinic for his health care for more than 30 years. "Sansum Clinic is wonderful and gets four stars," said his wife Barbara, recently. "The staff is very knowledgeable and efficient."
 Some years ago, Dr. Bill Doane, a good friend of the Peterson's and a Sansum Clinic physician, nursed Barbara through a bout of cancer. "When Bill invited me to serve on Sansum's Board of Trustees in 1984, I was honored," said Herb. Since his specialty was marketing, Herb served on the marketing and development committee and helped promote the digital mammography capital campaign.
Herb wanted to give something back to Sansum Clinic in return, so in 2003 he had his attorney draft a simple codicil to his will, leaving a generous bequest to Sansum Clinic at the end of their lives.
"It was very easy to do. We formed friendships with our physicians and there is an encyclopedia of experience among the physicians who are right on top of new approaches to medicine," explained Herb.
Sadly, Herb passed away in March 2008 and Barbara in August 2009. As a major in the Marines during World War II, he served three years in the Pacific. When he disembarked in San Diego on V-Day, he wound up buying his plane ticket home to Chicago from his future wife, Barbara, who at that time worked for the airlines.
Herb was a New York art director for the Chicago office of a major advertising agency, when the ad manager of McDonalds walked in one day. Herb's firm landed the account and a lasting friendship with Ray Kroc, owner of McDonalds.
When Ray offered Herb the Santa Barbara McDonalds franchise in 1968, Herb and Barbara packed and moved here, starting up the very first McDonalds in town. Herb was the inventor of the world famous Egg McMuffin, which has since become a staple on McDonalds' menus.
Herb's advice to other patients "consider including Sansum Clinic in your estate plans. You're investing in the best medical talent in town."
In 2003, Sansum Clinic's Board of Trustees established an endowment fund to ensure that the tradition of caring continues in perpetuity. The Partners Circle was created to recognize and honor those who contributed a minimum of $10,000 to the endowment through a gift of cash, stock or a planned gift. Herb and Barbara are founding members of The Partners Circle through a gift in their estate plans.
You too can help ensure quality health care for our community by joining The Partners Circle. Our Partners Circle members are recognized on the Wall of Honor at our two main facilities in Santa Barbara. For information on how you can become a member please contact:
Dru A. Hartley
Director of Philanthropy
Sansum Clinic
(805) 681-7726
dhartley@sansumclinic.org
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