Thomas J. Dowd, MD, of Marblehead, formerly of Reading, died at home on September 26, 2017, after a long illness. Born in Mahanoy City, Pa., on June 28, 1928, Tom was the eldest son of the late Susan and Thomas F. Dowd. He was raised in Ringtown, Pa., and graduated from Conyngham Township High School in 1945. Tom earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland in 1951 and went on to medical school at Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, Pa. It was there that he met Barbara A. Baute, MD, who he married two days after their graduation from medical school in 1955.
After an internship in Allentown, Pa., Tom joined the Medical Corps of the United States Navy and served two years in Paris Island, S.C. Upon his return to civilian life, he completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Wayne State University's Hutzel Women's Hospital in Detroit, Mich. In 1965 he and Barbara settled in Massachusetts to raise their growing family and enter private practice. Tom specialized in obstetrics and gynecology, while Barbara focused on pediatrics. The husband-and-wife team took care of patients of Dowd Medical Associates in Reading, Mass., for more than 30 years. During that time, Tom served three years as president of the medical and dental staff at Winchester Hospital in Winchester, Mass., where he also was chief of the obstetrics and gynecology department.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Barbara, and their six children and their families: Anne S. Dowd of Vail, Colo.; Katherine and Arthur E. Muller of Sunapee, N.H.; Mary Beth and Brian Trubitt of Bismarck, Ark.; Thomas R. Dowd of Beverly, Mass.; Nancy and Gary Holt of Superior, Colo.; and John P. and Elizabeth Dowd of Chestnut Hill, Mass. He also leaves behind 10 grandchildren: Joseph and Kelsey Muller, Rebecca and Katherine Trubitt; Graham, Kevin and Sean Holt; and Isabella, Peter and Nicholas Dowd. He is survived by his sister and her family, Mary and Fred Hartman of Phippsburg, Maine. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Robert J. Dowd and James R. Dowd.
Prior to his retirement in 2000, Tom and Barbara moved to Marblehead, Mass. From there they took every opportunity to explore the New England coastline on their sailboat, "Cigogne." (A nod to his medical career, cigogne is the French word for stork; the dingy was named, "Bebe.") Their sailing adventures included the completion of the 363-nautical-mile Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race, in which they placed fifth in their class.
Tom and Barbara also traveled as much as they could, embarking on adventures at home and abroad. Proud of his Irish roots, Tom was thrilled to take his sons on a golf trip to the Emerald Isle. And he loved to ski, enough to load the car with six kids and all of their equipment for countless trips to Vermont. A highlight was a Christmas vacation to Zermatt, Switz., with kids, spouses and grandchild.
Visitation will be held at the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home at 142 Elm Street, Marblehead on Sunday, October 1 between 4 - 8 pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 85 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead, on Monday, October 2 at 11 am, followed by burial at Waterside Cemetery in Marblehead. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a favorite charity.
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