Jean Ahillen Kilbridge, MD, of Burlingame, California, died peacefully on February 9, 2026 after a long illness. A devoted mother and a committed physician, Jean built a life defined by steady care — for her family, her patients, and her community.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Jean’s early life was shaped by her family and education at St. Francis de Sales School. A graduate of Saint Louis University (BS, MD), she pursued a career in medicine at a time when few women were admitted to the profession (she was one of three in her medical school class of 103). Jean spent the bulk of her clinical career as an internist at Kaiser Permanente in South San Francisco (1971–1994), where she was known for her determined presence, compassionate ear, and profound respect for the dignity of every patient she served. Earlier in her life she brought that same ethic of service overseas as a missionary doctor to the indigenous people of Sandimen, Taiwan.
At home she was equally steadfast. Jean married Thomas Kilbridge on June 20, 1963, and raised five children while sustaining her demanding medical career. She mothered with patience and practical love, teaching by example how to balance devotion to family with a vocation of service. She raised children of different temperaments, needs, and gifts, including a child with Down Syndrome, with quiet strength. Her children remember her as a model of character and selflessness. She was a mother who nurtured, guided, and celebrated them in equal measure.
Her Catholic faith was foundational to her life. Upon retirement, she became a frequent daily communicant at her parish, St. Catherine of Siena, grounding her days in prayer and gratitude. Her faith and intellect led her to graduate study at the Jesuit and Franciscan Schools of Theology in Berkeley.
Outside of her work, Jean loved family meals (she was guardian of the world’s greatest spaghetti sauce recipe), hiking, kayaking, road trips, the San Francisco Opera, and the occasional classic Manhattan.
Jean is survived by her devoted husband, Thomas Kilbridge; her children Martin (Shannon), William (Lucy), Phillip (Kelley Karandjeff), and Roger. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Karen. She is remembered with great affection by her grandchildren Elizabeth, Austin, David, Kendall, Liam, Rowan, Christopher, Savannah, Dylan, Elias, and Alexander and step-granddaughters, Liliana and Avila. Jean was the daughter of William and Helen Mueller Ahillen and was preceded in death by two sisters, Rita Luecke and Miriam Apel, and four brothers, Robert, William, Ray, and Paul.
The family wishes to thank Jean’s caregivers for their kindness: Grace Verano, Karina Garcia, Paula Alloro-Lichtenstein, the team at Mills Estate Villa, and Mission Hospice.
Jean’s life was a steady example of service, a combination of professional excellence and family devotion, that left a lasting legacy of love for all who knew her. She will be deeply missed.
Visitation will take place Friday February 13 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 1310 Bayswater Avenue, Burlingame, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that friends honor Jean’s life by making a donation to a favorite charity.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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