Dr. Lionel J. Gatien

Dr. Lionel J. Gatien, 76, beloved husband, father, physician, mentor and friend, passed away surrounded by those he loved and lived for, on Sunday, February 7, 2016 after a prolonged illness. Lionel dedicated his life to his family, the friends and colleagues he considered family, and to his patients. After graduating as valedictorian of his medical school class in 1965, Dr. Gatien joined the US Army and became the Chief Medical Officer at the Armed Forces Entrance & Exam Station in Jacksonville, Florida. He achieved the rank of Major before earning an Honorable Discharge in 1969. Dr. Gatien then went into private practice, where he was dedicated to serving his patients for over 46 years, 43 of which were in Jacksonville. During this time, he was a founding member of the Geriatric Section of the American College of Osteopathic Internists, and was the first Doctor of Osteopathy to obtain active member status at Baptist Medical Center, Memorial Medical Center, Clay Memorial Hospital, and Orange Park Hospital. He was a founding member of Jacksonville Medical Center, now Specialty Hospital, where he later served as a Chief of Staff and was appointed to the Board of Trustees. Dr. Gatien also became the first Doctor of Osteopathy to be the Chairman of Internal Medicine at Memorial Hospital. At the time of his death, Dr. Gatien was the Chief of Staff at Kindred Hospital in Northeast Florida, a member of the Board of Directors at Orange Accountable Care ACO, and Medical Director & Clinical Research Investigator at the Fleming Island branch of the Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research. As an avid hunter and fisherman, Lionel said he hopes to see you all in the happy hunting ground hereafter. Dr. Lionel Gatien leaves behind a loving wife, Kathleen Gatien; children: Andre Gatien (Charlotte), Konrad Gatien (Jen), Daniel Brown (Donna), Kathy Ehresmann (Ken), and Tim Brown (Francesca); grandchildren: Isabelle, Elana, and Merannen Gatien; Luke and Lauren Gatien; Ryan, Noah, and Joanna Brown; and Jake, Sadie, and Bruce Ehresmann; siblings Gary Gatien (Kathleen), and Jean Smith. Lionel was preceded in death by his parents Lionel A. Gatien and Dorothy (Marsack) Gatien, and his sister Ann Marie Hicks. Lionel was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. The family would also like to express their gratitude to Haven Hospice of Orange Park for their caring and compassion during this difficult time. A memorial service will be held on Monday, February 15 at 4:00 at the Baha’i Community Center of Jacksonville, 5034 Greenland Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32258. Military honors will be given at the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Please sign the family's online guestbook at www.broadusraines.com. Arrangements are under the care of Broadus-Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring Street, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 (904) 284-4000.