Dr. John Willson
Essex — Dr. John E. Willson, 88, of Essex, formerly of Basking Ridge, N.J., beloved husband of June (Isgate) Willson, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, at Yale New Haven Medical Center.
Born in Scranton, Pa., in 1929, to the late Emerson and Helen (Eno) Willson, John graduated from Clarks Summit/Clarks Green Joint High School in Clarks Summit, Pa. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from New York State Veterinary College, Cornell University. Following graduation from veterinary school, John served as a first lieutenant and medical bacteriologist in the U.S. Army at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md. He then started his professional life as an intern and staff doctor at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, Mass., before moving on to a successful career in research in the pharmaceutical industry, first at Pfizer and then, for more than 30 years, at Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey as a senior pathologist, assistant director and then manager of the Johnson & Johnson Research Foundation and Corporate Director, Animal Care and Use for the Corporate Office of Science and Technology.
Among his many professional and community activities, John served as a member and delegate of the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association and American Veterinary Medical Association, a member of the Society of Toxicology, a Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences and on the board of the New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research. He also served on the Bernards Township, NJ Board of Health, and on the Board of Trustees of Raritan Valley Community College. He was a longtime member of the Basking Ridge, N.J., Presbyterian Church, participated in local politics and coached Little League baseball. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
John was passionate and knowledgeable about a wide variety of topics, including history, politics, jazz, opera, medicine, science, wine and travel, reading four newspapers a day and several books at a time. He was a lifelong admirer and authority on all things Theodore Roosevelt, as well as a collector of TR memorabilia and books, in addition to serving as a trustee of the Theodore Roosevelt Association and attending yearly Association events.
He enjoyed family vacations to Cape Cod for more than 50 years, Penn State football weekends in the fall with lifelong friends, ski trips to Vermont and Colorado, museum visits and taking cruises on the Queen Mary 2. A loyal and enthusiastic fan of the Boston Red Sox and Penn State football, John followed each game closely, and loved watching and following most sports, especially college football, and attending minor league baseball games.
John is survived by his wife of 62 years, June (Isgate) Willson of Essex; daughter Judith Davies and her husband, Tom, of Lyme; daughter Laura Willson and her husband, Kevin Baker, of Swansea, Mass.; son Peter Willson and his wife, Melinda, of Westfield, N.J.; and his grandchildren, Caroline and Rebecca. He was predeceased by his sister, Lois Gustafson. He was a true gentleman, devoted husband and father, and will be missed by all for his kindness, friendship, wisdom, wit and inquisitive mind.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, at St. Ann’s Episcopal Parish, Old Lyme. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Essex Meadows Employee Appreciation Fund, 30 Bokum Road, Essex, CT 06426, the Theodore Roosevelt Association (Gable TRA Journal Fund), P. O. Box 719, Oyster Bay, NY 11771, or the charity of your choice.