John Joseph Whitaker

Jack attended Creighton University High School, graduating with class honors in 1950. He then attended Creighton University, earning a Bachelors degree in 1954 followed by a medical degree in 1958. Following his studies he worked as an intern at Mount Carmel Hospital in Detroit, Michigan before serving as a medical resident and associate consultant at the Mayo Clinic from 1959 to 1965. In addition to his residency, Jack served his country as Assistant Chief of the US Army’s Brook General Hospital in San Antonio from 1962 to 1964, reaching the rank of Captain.

Following a terrible Minnesota winter, Jack escaped Rochester and moved to Austin with his family in 1965, becoming in the process the first practicing oncologist in the city. From 1965 until his retirement in 2008, Jack worked with Capital Medical Clinic and Southwest Regional Cancer Center. He treated thousands of patients in the city of Austin at Brackenridge, Holy Cross, Seton, and St. David’s hospitals as well as the People’s Free Clinic, which he helped to found in 1970. He also utilized his considerable medical talents in Washington, D.C., where he worked as a special consultant to the FDA’s board on Oncology Drugs from 1976 to 1980.

Jack liked to spend his free time hunting, fishing, playing cards, yelling at televised sports, smoking cigars, drinking Irish whiskey, and enjoying the company of good friends. Though he was a member of several rarified and distinguished Austin clubs, Jack felt most at home in a local greasy spoon like “Dirty Martin’s” or Enchiladas y Mas.

Dr. Whitaker is survived by his wife, Cindy; his two sons, Jeffrey and Bob; his daughters, Mary Coyle and Brenda; and his grandsons, Gus and Ben.

The family wishes to thank all of Jack’s close friends and family who were there in a time of great need. His family would especially like to thank Dr. Richard Helmer, Dr. Kent Beasley, Dr. Rashad Dabaghi, Dr. Timothy Dziuk, Dr. William Kessler, Dr. Paul Harford, the staff at the Radiation Center and all of the truly wonderful people that work on 7 North at Seton.

A visitation will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 25, 2010 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home North Lamar. A Memorial service will be held the following day at 7:00 p.m. at the same location.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please make a donation in Dr. Whitaker’s name to The Cancer Connection or the cancer association of your choice.