Fay Knight Alexander Jr. MD, of Marblehead and Captiva FL, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 14, 2013. He was born in Philadelphia on March 14, 1935, the son of Fay K. Alexander MD and Leone Furtney Alexander. He attended Germantown Friends School from K- 12th grade, and graduated in 1953 as President of the Student Council. He attended Princeton University and graduated in 1957 with a BA in European Civilization. Knight earned his MBA from Wharton School and worked in business until he changed career paths and found his true calling in medicine. Dr. Alexander attended Hahnemann Medical College (now Drexel) and received his MD in 1964. He moved to the Boston area for internship and residency training in radiology at Mt Auburn Hospital and received a fellowship in cardiovascular radiology in 1969. He became a Captain with the 102nd Massachusetts Air National Guard Tactical Hospital during the Viet Nam War. Dr. Alexander worked in academic medicine as a radiologist at Tufts New England Medical Center and then, retaining a Tufts appointment as clinical instructor in radiology, he moved into a group practice at North Shore Medical Center (Salem Hospital) eventually becoming Associate Chief of Radiology. He spent the next 30 years at NSMC and by his own words “enjoyed an exciting career during a time of extraordinary advances the field, practicing medicine with a sophisticated and congenial group of men and women.” In retirement, he stayed current in his field and lunched socially with a retired physicians group.
Knight pursued many interests and activities outside of the hospital. He read constantly and enjoyed discourse on many subjects. He was an active conservationist and passionate naturalist. He loved science and history, and closely followed current events. He enjoyed many types of music, attended and supported Handel and Haydyn Society Concerts and sang yearly with the Festival Chorus at Old North Church in Marblehead. Knight participated in many recreational activities and spent the summers of his youth camping with his family in the Tetons of Wyoming. He loved to bike, ski and golf. He played paddle tennis and was a runner. In retirement, he walked at dawn with friends every day. Knight spent as much time as possible on the water and he and his wife Marge spent many summers racing, first on their one-design lightning and later on their sloop which they cruised and raced up and down the New England coast. Dr. Alexander was a member of Eastern Yacht Club, Tedesco Country Club, Mass Audubon, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, R.O.M.E.O.S. and many humanitarian and conservation organizations which he supported over the years.
Dr. Alexander was pre-deceased by his parents and by a son, Fay Knight Alexander III. He leaves his loving wife of 55 years, Marjorie (Adams) Alexander, his children, a son Geoffrey and his wife Lindsay, his daughters Elizabeth and Cynthia, five grandchildren, Mariah, William, Fred, Curtis, and Garrett, his brother William and his wife Julie, their son Daniel, cousins Janet, Judy, Leone, and so many friends and colleagues who knew Knight to be a true gentleman and a considerate friend. Following private services, internment will be at Waterside Cemetery, Marblehead. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Handel and Hayden Society, 300 Massachusetts Ave. Boston, MA 02115, Mass Audubon, 208 S Great Rd. Lincoln, MA 01773 or The Trustees of Reservations Advancement Office, 572 Essex St. Beverly, MA 01915. Arrangements by the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home, Marblehead.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18