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Assisting the Montana communities of Helena, East Helena, Townsend, White Sulphur Springs, Montana City, Clancy & Lincoln

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In Memory Of

Vincent G. Pons, age 79, of Helena

February 19, 1947 – April 23, 2026

Vince passed away surrounded by family and loved ones on April 23, 2026 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease.

Born and raised in Bellville, NJ he excelled academically through St. Benedicts Prep. Georgetown undergraduate, Cornell Medical School, UCSF school of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health spending the majority of his career developing the Department of Infectious Diseases at University of California San Francisco along with longtime partner Dr. Richard Jacobs.  It should be acknowledged that his future academic success could be attributed to an exorcism performed at Our Lady of Good Council grammar school after an incident involving an ink bottle and an attempted evasion?  Reports on the success of the exorcism still vary.

Vince’s immediate family was small, sister Brenda took the brunt of his teasing but the rest of the Italian/Spanish family was not spared.  Summers with the cousins in the Poconos or the Jersey Shore were standouts.

It was during his training years in San Francisco that he met Charlotte (Lotte) Hultman RN in the midst of crisis in the coronary care unit, It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship that lasted over 50 years, producing the apple of his eye, daughter Ali (Alexandra)

In the early 1990’s heart disease ended his time at UC but with the excellent care of the physicians at Cardiology Assoc. of Marin and the TAM program he found there was a full life to be enjoyed beyond the practice of medicine and enjoy it he did.

Vince was a man who loved to laugh.  He loved playing practical jokes, especially with his brother-in-law Barry.  The two would often pretend to be food critics for Sunset Magazine when eating out much to the embarrassment of their children.

Lotte had long standing associations with the state of Montana and with baby steps she introduced Vince to the wonders of life in the mountains.  This included going up the hill to the outhouse, bathing in an old iron tub with a fire under it to heat the water, fishing and …a golf course.  As his appreciation for the great outdoors grew, a less Spartan existence presented itself and he became the proud owner of 20 acres on a river with a pond and indoor plumbing.

If Vinnie had a love beyond his family, it was the game of golf.  Some of his last hours were spent watching the Masters with his buddy of over 30 Member Guest tournaments Chris Speed.  He christened himself “Doctore Vincenzo Sandbaggio” and those who are unclear as to the term “sandbagger” ask one of the golfers.  He was a man who loved to laugh.

Vince is survived by his wife Lotte, daughter Ali, sister Brenda, nephew Rob, the Sgarrella’s, cousins, and finally his faithful companion Sweetie Pie the cat who rarely left his side.

A special thank you to the staff of St. Peter’s Hospital especially the St. Peter’s Hospice nurses and Drs. Gilbert and Kreisberg

A celebration of his life will be held May 30, 2026 between 12-3pm, at Green Meadow Country  Club, 2720 Country Club Ave. Helena, MT 59601

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Montana Outdoor Legacy attn: Montana Wild,  PO box 845, Helena MT. 59624 or The American Heart Association.

 

Service Schedule

Celebration of His Life

12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday May 30, 2026

Green Meadow Country Club

2720 Country Club Avenue

Helena,, Montana

View map

Service Schedule

Celebration of His Life

12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday May 30, 2026

Green Meadow Country Club

2720 Country Club Avenue

Helena,, Montana

View map

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  1. Goose and Jan (Gleason) Gregson says

    April 25, 2026 at 8:56 am

    Dear Lottie and family….. we are truly sorry for the passing of “Vinnie” as my dad Bing Gleason called him. What an incredible man…. so much compassion and such an amazing personality. I remember the first time I heard about the two of you a long time ago. Mom and dad were so thrilled to have you as neighbors, so many wonderful stories!
    Doc Pons was always stopping by to just … check in…. he was truly a God Send later on as dad’s health grew worse…
    we all hope that your memories, stories and love give you peace in the time to come… we are here if you need anything!

  2. Jack Voy says

    April 27, 2026 at 10:02 am

    Lottie and Ally our sincere condolences.

    Vinny was most one of the most influential people in my life. Being the oldest of four, and since he was a few years older, he was my role model. I followed him to Saint Benedict’s Prep attempting to follow in his academic footsteps (which was impossible!) and pursued my education after college much as he did.

    Recently, I spoke to him on a more regular basis than I had in previous years and told him how unknowingly or not how my life would have been different but for him.

    He was extraordinarily intelligent, compassionate, thoughtful, considerate of others and exemplified all of the qualities that are important in life. He certainly left the world a better place.

    Jack, Dottie and Jackson Voynick

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Service Schedule

Celebration of His Life

12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday May 30, 2026

Green Meadow Country Club

2720 Country Club Avenue

Helena,, Montana

View map

Share

Share this! Tweet this! Email this!

Send flowers

Please visit the floral shop page for assistance in choosing a local florist.

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