Former Providence chief of staff dies

Darleene Barrientos

Longtime Glendale resident and pediatrician Wendell Coffelt will be

remembered at a public memorial reception for his medical

contributions and patriotic efforts. Coffelt, 92, died in his sleep

July 30.

Coffelt was a former chief of staff at Burbank’s Providence St.

Joseph Medical Center, an advocate for the center’s emergency center

for infants and children and a World War II medal recipient.

But to his daughter Wendy, who is named after him, losing her

father meant also losing a friend.

“I just feel so sad about him when I think about him because I do

miss him,” she said. “We spent a lot of time together.”

Coffelt served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as chief of medical

services of all U.S. forces in China, Burma and India during World

War II. While he was there, Coffelt was instrumental in controlling

epidemics throughout China with an immunization program. He received

the Chinese Grand Star of Honor for his service.

Coffelt was also presented with several medals -- including the

Bronze Star Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze

Star and the World War II Victory Medal -- by Rep. Adam Schiff

(D-Glendale) during last year’s Veterans Day celebration in Burbank.

After the war, Coffelt opened a pediatric practice in Burbank and

joined the staff at Providence St. Joseph in 1946. Coffelt

established programs like newborn genetic screening, a countywide car

seat program called “First Ride-Safe Ride” and Pediatric After Hours

Care at the hospital.

Coffelt is survived by his wife Dolores; his five children, Wendy,

Phillip, Lisa, Brian and Christina; 14 grandchildren; and one

great-grandchild.

Plans for the public memorial reception at Providence St. Joseph

are pending, and in lieu of flowers, the family has asked that

donations be made to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center’s Pediatric

After Hours Care, 501 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91505.