Obituary of Dr. John Southwick

On March 29, Dr. John B. Southwick, age 88, passed away at UVM-CVPH Medical Center with loving family by his side. He was born in 1933 to Anne (Boulton) and Charles Southwick. John was a 1950 graduate from Champlain Central School, afterward attending Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, PA. He attended Yale University for his undergraduate work. He graduated from NY Medical College. After his residency, he joined the US Army and was stationed in Darmstadt, Germany. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to his hometown where he was a beloved General Practitioner for over 40 years. Throughout his professional life, Dr. John’s true gift was helping people. Along with maintaining his practice, he was the local school physician, Ayerst Labs Company Physician, and served on the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Board of Directors. In addition to his professional associations, he also served on the Champlain Library Board of Directors, Champlain Telephone Board of Directors, the Three Steeples United Methodist Church Board of Trustees and as Champlain Fire District Commissioner. John was a three-letter athlete at Champlain Central where he played baseball, soccer and basketball. John continued to stay active well into his seventies where you could see him and his wife Joanne running and walking the roads around Champlain. One of his favorite post-retirement activities was visiting with people in the community at the Champlain Post Office. John was well known as one of the area’s top antique car collectors. His passion was the Ford Model A. His collection included most of the different models available. John was an avid sports fan following all of his children and grandchildren’s sporting events. He was a die-hard Montreal Canadiens (not), St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, L.A. Lakers and Boston Bruins fan. In the late sixties and seventies he and his brother Dave had the privilege of attending a number of World Series games. John is predeceased by his parents and his brother David Southwick. John is survived by his wife Joanne (66 years married), his four children, Stephen (Lori) Southwick, Mark (Monique) Southwick, Kurt (Steven) Southwick, Amy (Jack) Tompkins. John also leaves behind 8 grandchildren; John, Chad, Michael, Emily, Brittany, Andrew, Sarah and Katelyn, and 8 great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at Three Steeples Methodist church on Rt. 11 in Champlain at 11:00 AM Saturday, April 2, 2022. People are welcome to visit beforehand, with the family, beginning at 10:00 AM. Burial will take place Friday, May 27 at 1:00 PM at Glenwood Cemetery in Champlain with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Champlain Fire Department or the Champlain Public Library.