Dr. John T. Barrett, a chalet owner on Golf Course Road in Warren
since 1969 and a resident of Providence, RI, passed away peacefully at
home on January 26, 2010, in his 93rd year, surrounded by his loving
family.
He is survived by Mary Eyre Sisson Barrett "Puss," his wife of 68 1/2 years.
He
was born June 11, 1917, in Lewisville, Indiana, the son of Ruth
(Telfer) and the Rev. Maurice E. Barrett, who served for many years as
the minister of Washington Park Methodist Church in Providence.
He graduated from Classical High School, Brown University, and Boston University Medical School.
He
served his country during WWII in the Army Medical Corps in the
European Theater. He was later recalled to active duty during the
Korean Conflict, where he served at Camp Edwards from 1949 to 1950.
He
was in the private practice of pediatrics at 122 Waterman Street,
Providence, from 1949 to 1990, in association with Dr. Henry Utter, Dr.
Wilson Utter, Dr. Robert Lord Jr., and Dr. Judith Shaw.
While a
student, he authored "The Smallpox Inoculation Controversy in Puritan
New England" for which he was awarded the Sir William Osler Medal, the
first such medal presented by the American Association for the History
of Medicine.
He received the W.W. Keen Award for distinguished service to the Brown Medical School.
He
served as the Rhode Island chairman of the March of Dimes campaign in
1957 to end polio and for that service was recognized along with Dr.
Jonas Salk at a commemorative event sponsored by the Brown Medical
School in 1982. He helped establish the Program in Medical Education
which later became the Brown Medical School, and was a Clinical
Associate Professor of Pediatrics from the school's earliest days.
He
was the Pediatrician-in-Chief at the Rhode Island Hospital and at the
Lying-In (formerly the Women's and Infants') Hospital, the first doctor
to hold those posts concurrently.
In middle age, he took up golf
and became a master of the short game. The location of his chalet on
the 17th fairway of the Sugarbush Golf Course (although it was the 8th
when he bought the property!) was well chosen so he could relax on his
porch, watch foursomes pass by when he wasn't playing himself and be
ever alert for the wayward drive that would occasionally crash through
the woods and mar the solitude.
He particularly enjoyed the 11th
hole where the ball would seem to float in the air forever from the
elevated tee before slamming into the green or all too occasionally
make a Herculean splash just short of the bank. He will be remembered
by fellow competitors with pipe clenched between his teeth rolling in
ridiculous putts to extend or win matches.
For many years he
served a summer stint as camp doctor at Cragged Mountain Farm in
Freedom, NH, where he introduced his children to the pleasures of CMF
camp life. He was the school doctor for Lincoln and Moses Brown
Schools. He rarely missed the Warren Fourth of July parades and always
enjoyed applauding whatever character Hap had assumed for the occasion.
He was especially proud of his garden that he maintained at the family
summer cottage in Hope, RI, where he kept the tables full with
zucchini, tomatoes, and pole beans. He enjoyed giving away his
homegrown pumpkins inscribed with the recipients' initials. He also
kept bees.
He and Puss were avid bridge players, and he remained active in the ACBL until the last days of his life.
They were a formidable pair at the table.
He
was "ever true to Brown" -- a loyal son of Brown and served as
president of Class of 1939 for multiple years, often hosting class
gatherings at his home. He rarely missed attending, or later in life
listening to, the football games.
He was a member of the Friday Night Medical Club, the Hope Club, and Agawam Hunt.
He
will be remembered for his unflappable manner and subtle sense of
humor. His family has been blessed by his patriarchy and we know that
he is a rare man who will live in our hearts forever.
Besides
his wife, he leaves his children and their spouses: William S. Barrett
of The Bridges at Sugarbush as well as Freedom, NH, and his children,
Joshua and Jameson; John T. Jr. and Jane W.A. Barrett of Rehoboth, MA,
and their four children, Abigail B. Bloom, Emily G. Barrett, John T.
Barrett III and Eliza W. Barrett; Charles S. and Allison K. Barrett of
Providence and Coventry, RI, and their children, Amy Barrett and CB
Barrett -- CB is the chef at The Hide Away and his wife Melissa works
at The Pitcher Inn; Margaret B. Holzman and Steve Holzman of Hurley,
NY, and their children, Sarah H. Kelly and David Holzman; Elizabeth B.
and Dennis Johnson of Nevada City, CA, and their children, Elisha and
Miriam. Elizabeth lived and worked in The Valley for many years before
joining the Ananda community in California.
He is survived by
six great-grandchildren. He also leaves nephews Tim and Robert Barrett;
nephews Larry, Bob and Stuart Rider and niece Susan Rider Rittling. He
was brother of the late Robert Walter Barrett.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, January 30, 2010, at The Sinclair Room, Moses Brown School in Providence.
Donations
in his memory may be made to Hasbro Children's Hospital, Development
Office, Box H, Providence, RI 02901 and will be deeply appreciated.
