Lieutenant Colonel Guilherme Rosario Carvalho, M.D. died at his home in DeLuz, near Temecula, California on February 9, 2016. Dr. Carvalho was born on April 5th,1944 in Panjim, Goa. He spent his first seven years in Goa, before the family traveled by steamboat to Mombasa, Kenya, in 1951. As a child, he quickly was integrated into the culture of British Kenya, learning to speak English, Swahili and Latin while still maintaining his native dialect of Konkani with friends and family.

In secondary school, he received a first class certificate from Cambridge University. He then attended Stratmore University in Nairobi for a pre-medical certificate from London University. This earned him a place at Makerere University Medical School in Uganda. During the tumultuous takeover by Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin, Dr. Carvalho attained his medical degree in 1971. Subsequently, he returned to Kenya and worked for the Kenyan government for four years. Dr. Carvalho traveled from Kenya to Detroit, Michigan and commenced a post-graduate internal medicine residency at Wayne State University. In 1978, he became board certified in Internal Medicine. In 1979, Dr. Carvalho moved to Hemet, California. He established his solo, private practice in Internal Medicine and became a Board Certified Geriatrician, specializing in wound care. Dr. Carvalho built and occupied for many years, his offices, located at 118 N. Santa Fe Street. As a long-standing member of the Hemet Valley Hospital Medical Staff with privileges at Menifee Hospital, he served as medical director of Manor Care, San Jacinto Healthcare, and Hospice.

In 1985, Dr. Carvalho answered his calling to “give back to his country” and he joined the United States Air Force Reserves. In 1987, he was commissioned as Captain at March Air Force Base, Det. 4 of the 11th Contingency Hospital. A year later, Captain Carvalho was promoted to Major and was trained as a Flight surgeon at Brooks A.F.B. in San Antonio, Texas. During Desert Storm, Dr. Carvalho was called up for active duty and stationed at Wilford Hall, Lackland A.F.B. He earned his wings and started flying with the 79th Refueling Squadron as a Flight Surgeon, aboard their KC 10’s until they departed to Travis A.F.B. Again, in 2003, Carvalho was called up to serve during Iraqi Freedom. During this time, he was stationed at both March A.R.B. and at Miramar M.C.A.S. He was selected to support Operation Deep Freeze at McMurdo Station in Antartica in 2004. In the final years of his service, LTC Carvalho, M.D. cared for fellow flyers and crew members at the CLINIC 452nd AMDS. Then, during an exercise at March A.F.B., he suffered a heart attack. Despite this, he managed to maintain his private practice in Hemet as he continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve for 22 years.

Dr. Carvalho was a compassionate physician and humanitarian, striving always to achieve the “Gold Standard of Health Care.” He selflessly dedicated his life to caring for others… with service to our country, community, and devotion to his patients. On December 1, 2012, Physicians For Healthy Hospitals, Inc. and the Medical Staff of Hemet Valley Medical Center recognized Dr. Carvalho for his lifetime achievements and “dedication, leadership and continuous support of outstanding patient care.” He has been a role model and mentor to many young doctors, including his children. He has practiced next door to his eldest son Gerard, an ear, nose, and throat surgeon, for the last 13 years. They would often do cancer surgeries together. He also helped train his daughter Elana, who is a mom and Physicians Assistant (PA), in the Hemet/San Jacinto area.

Dr. Carvalho loved spending family time with his children and grandchildren in Poipu, Kauai. He enjoyed fishing, golfing and shooting with his friends and enjoyed fine food and good wine with his neighbors in DeLuz. He loved teaching his grandchildren about plants. He enjoyed gardening and tending to his fruit trees; traveling; reading; films; history; music; his cats and his Pugs. Dr. Carvalho left a footprint of his life well lived… and a family legacy to carry on. Beloved husband, father and grandfather – our hearts are broken. The great Patriarch, provider and the embodiment of our family, Dr. Carvalho is survived by his wife, Sharon; children: Gerard, Elana, John and Julian; grandchildren: Ayden, Zubin, Keiran and Tenzing; Oscar Martinez; Grace Carvalho; Chitra Carvalho; siblings: Annie, Dominic (former DRGS teacher), Joseph and Simon Carvalho.

“The Purpose of Life is a Life with Purpose.” May Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him… and May He Rest in Peace, Amen.

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