John Drake Westwood

January 31, 1942 - March 30, 2021

SAN DIEGO — Dr. John Westwood, DDS, passed away peacefully March 30, 2021 surrounded by his wife and three children at Scripps Memorial Hospital from Parkinson’s complications. An adventurous, kind and generous soul, John shared his talents, time and love with friends, family and community. No one was a stranger to “Dr. John”.

He grew up on the shores of Mission Beach, graduated from Mission Bay High school in 1960, attended BYU then served an LDS mission to Northern California. He transferred to SDSU majoring in Zoology where he earned a varsity letter in volleyball. Creative match making by his mother, Betty Westwood, led to a beautiful marriage of over 53 years to Darice (Tippets).

In 1967, John and Darice moved to Los Angeles to attend USC Dental School. After graduation, John returned to San Diego with his young family. Initially working alongside his father, Dr. John T. Westwood, John enjoyed connecting with his patients for over 37 years. As a member of Flying Samaritans, he provided free dental care to remote villages in Baja California. In 1982, he opened a second dental practice in Pacific Beach. John continued to serve his patients and the community. He was President of the PTA at Pacific Beach Middle School. An original board member for Discover Pacific Beach, and he served as a board member of the Pacific Beach Town Council. In 2007, he retired from dentistry after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Known for wearing crazy hats, colorful jackets, with a playful character and the twinkle in his eyes, he refused to let Parkinson’s slow him down. In 2012, he was awarded the honorary Mayor of Pacific Beach, where he was instrumental in renovating the play equipment at Kate Sessions Park. He spent weekends volunteering for Concerts on the Green at Kate Sessions Park and picking up trash wherever he went. John and Darice enjoyed many date nights as patrons of the symphony and live theater. Together they traveled extensively throughout the world.

A man of action, he enjoyed playing golf, tennis, waterskiing, snow skiing and adventures along the Colorado River, especially time at Lake Powell. He volunteered countless hours on the weekends with the Blind Ski Program that brought him immense joy. John looked forward to any time he could yell, “Hit it!” behind a boat.

Grinding wheat, baking and delivering bread to countless friends and neighbors allowed him to use the wheat storage under the house and connect with others. He was devoted to his family, providing a constant cheering section to his children and grandchildren.

Time spent together as family was filled with dominos, waterskiing, card games, music, golfing, Dutch oven meals, tennis, pickleball and ping pong; but most of all, the laughter and love that enveloped each person in his presence. In recent years, John loved to end family events with a cacophony of noise from his firecrackers stash, emphasizing his zest for good times spent together with his family and friends.

“We are not here for a long time, we are here for a good time!”

He is survived by his beloved wife, Darice Tippets Westwood; three children Damon (Trish) Westwood, Adrian (Katarina) Westwood and Stella (Parker) Jones; and six grandchildren: Peyton and Caprice Westwood, August Westwood, Morgan, Olivia and John Parker Jones; sister Margot Bradford and brother James Westwood.

Services will be held April 17. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Parkinson’s Association of San Diego or Pacific Beach Town Council.