Donald G. Corby

Born: January 13, 1934 in Jamestown, North Dakota.

Born to Eternal Life: October 30, 2024 in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Beloved son of Gordon R. Corby and Ruth E. Corby. Don Corby’s family were among the first homesteaders in the Dakota Territory in the 1880’s. His family immigrated from Norway and established their homes in Buffalo, North Dakota. He was a very good student, musician, and athlete.

He graduated from Grafton High School in 1951 and received his BS in Medicine from the University of North Dakota in 1957. At Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois he earned his MD, and became Dr. Corby in 1959. 

Donald married Carol A. Schiller of Lincolnwood, Illinois, on June 20, 1959 in Chicago. Shortly thereafter came the birth of their first child in 1960. Dr. Corby joined the United States Army Medical Corp in June of 1961 and started his career as an officer and pediatrician. He, and his family, were transferred to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. Over the next 10 years, the Corbys were stationed in San Antonio and El Paso, Texas, as well as Germany and Illinois, before moving to Colorado at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora. 

Don, now a Lieutenant Colonel, his wife and 5 children spent the first 2 years they lived in Aurora on the military base. Don was working as a pediatrician in Fitzsimons’ Building 500. The family welcomed their 6th child, in that very hospital, in 1970. We enjoyed the many privileges the United States Department of Defense had to offer and dad made sure his family experienced colorful Colorado to the fullest.

As the mission at Fitzsimons changed from medical training to research and investigation, Dr. Corby was assigned to become the first Chief of Clinical Investigation. Our family moved into our first permanent home in Aurora in 1972. Dad and Mom bought a home in Chambers Heights and moved their 6 children, named Timothy, Thomas, Kathleen, Suzanne, Barbara and Anne Marie off base and into the community that several still call home.

Colonel Corby was a respected researcher, and wrote many articles that were published in medical journals. He and his colleagues were investigating breakthroughs in hematology. During his final years in the U.S. Army, Donald completed a world tour of research facilities starting at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and concluding at Letterman Army Institute of Research. He retired from the United States Army in 1991, after 30 years of service to his country, at the Presidio in San Francisco, California. Colonel Donald G. Corby, MD received several medals and citations including those for Meritorious Service and the National Defense Service w/ Bronze Star.

Don and Carol Corby raised a family that was active, all day long. Getting all 6 kids to and from their classes, practices, rehearsals and competitions required more than just a station wagon. Each child had opportunities to learn how to golf, bowl, swim, play baseball and basketball with Don as their first teacher. When it came to skiing each child was provided with lessons. Dad loved to hike, and so his family explored many trails and points of interest. After the children had all moved out, Don and Carol explored new frontiers and scenery at resorts from the Caribbean to Hawaii.

Don served as a scoutmaster for his son’s Boy Scout troop and discovered a love for camping. Eventually he bought a truck, camper and trailer and began to explore the Front Range with his family in tow. With the incredible landscape and climate in Colorado to inspire him, Colonel Corby would plan trips across National Parks of the American West and beyond. Our trips were legendary. We still reminisce about them today! Dad summited mountains, like Long’s Peak in Rocky Mountain, hiked deep into the Grand Canyon, and stood atop Half Dome in Yosemite. At the end of the day, he would proudly march his family into an amphitheater in Yellowstone for a fireside chat with a park ranger.

Dr. Corby was an avid golfer and bowler. He participated on many teams and in tournaments in both sports. His favorites were Father-Daughter, or Father-Son competitions. Don was proud to have golfed at some of the finest courses in the United States. He volunteered as an official for PGA Jr. tournaments here in Colorado after his retirement. He was a fan of the local teams here in the Denver area, particularly the Denver Nuggets. However, Don’s devotion to North Dakota hockey was second to none. One would be hard pressed to find a more knowledgeable fan than Don. He had a tremendous mind for details and facts, and to argue with him was futile.

Don was a grandad, pet owner, stroke survivor and so much more. He was fiercely independent and lived life on his terms. We will remember him fondly.

Visitation and rosary will be at Newcomer Funeral Home from 5 to 7pm on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Memorial Mass will be at St. Pius X Catholic Church at 10am on Thursday, November 21, 2024, followed by burial ceremony at Fort Logan National Cemetery at 1pm.