Nearing 100, San Juan doctor is still in - The Orange County Register

San Juan Capistrano physician Doran Farnum will turn 100 years old on Election Day, Nov. 6, so he's seen a lot of presidents. He's also seen a lot of patients ? and still does. In fact, one of his patients was a president.

Farnum, originally from Newport, R.I., graduated in 1936 with a medical degree from Missouri's Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, the practice of manipulating and aligning bones and muscles into place after an injury.

Dr. Doran Farnum, an osteopathic physician, sits at his office in San Juan Capistrano, where he has lived and practiced since 1975. His 100th birthday is Nov. 6.

DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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Farnum met his future wife, Gretchen, while attending Kirksville. They married soon after and had two children, Gretchen and Doran Jr. The family moved to San Juan Capistrano in 1975, and Farnum opened a medical office soon after in a small space off Alipaz Street. With his daughter as his secretary, he still sees patients four mornings a week.

Farnum's wife died in 1998, and Doran Jr. passed last year. He has five grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a 4-year-old great-great-grandchild. A birthday party for Farnum is scheduled for next week with family, friends and patients.

When Farnum arrived in San Juan, there weren't many people there, he said. He recalled how he would regularly rent and fly a Cessna four-seater at the local airport, now long gone.

Farnum recalled traveling with his wife to more than 70 countries, including three worldwide trips ? twice by plane and once by Russian cruise ship (an around-the-world-in-80-days voyage). The best food, he says, is in Italy; the best scenery, New Zealand and Switzerland; the most interesting, the Orient; the nicest people, probably England ? though he says he's biased because his family originated there.

He says he gained a small measure of fame when his whole family was invited to play several semi-classical pieces on an evening variety show broadcast in Rhode Island. He played violin and other members played coronet and saxophone. "We had a lot of fun," Farnum said.

The key to living to 100? It's all in the genes, he said. Farnum's parents and grandparents all lived into their 80s and 90s.

Farnum, who looks many years younger than his age, says he doesn't play golf, tennis or pingpong like he used to, but he says an active lifestyle is important, as is eating right ? lots of fruits and vegetables.

"You have to behave yourself," Farnum said. "After I met my wife, I settled down. She was the only one for me."

As for all those presidents he's lived through ? 18, beginning with William Howard Taft ? he says his favorites are Richard Nixon and Harry Truman. Farnum treated Nixon during a year of weekly visits in 1977, when the former president was living in San Clemente. Farnum says Nixon was a regular guy.

And if you're wondering, Farnum's not saying who he plans to vote for on his birthday. But this could be a hint: "The one we have now hasn't done a good job," he said.

Source: http://www.ocregister.com/news/farnum-375645-says-family.html

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