John Gregor McGregor

1928 - 2017

John Gregor “Mac” McGregor died peacefully in Tucson, Ariz., after a long illness on March 6, 2017. The son of John G. McGregor and Ruth (Fuess) McGregor of Bisbee Mac was born in Warren on June 8, 1928 and grew up in Bisbee. He received his Bachelor of Science from Stanford University in 1949 and his Doctor of Medicine degree from George Washington University in 1953. Mac entered the U.S. Army in 1953 completing his Internal Medicine Residency at William Beaumont Army Hospital from 1953-54 and Brooke Army Hospital from 1955-58. He completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at Walter Reed Army Hospital from 1960-61.

Mac was a surgeon and medical officer with the U.S. Army, serving as Chief of the Department of Medicine at the U.S. Army Hospital in Augsburg, Germany from 1959-61. Mac was also the Commander of the 62nd Field Hospital assigned to the invasion of Cuba in 1962. Resigning his commission in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, Mac entered private practice as a gastroenterologist in Tucson in 1962, retiring in 1989. From 1978-90 he was an active member of the Medical Society of the United States and Mexico, serving on the Board of Directors and as Member, President, and Past President. Among Mac’s most notable professional achievements was his establishment of the first gastroenterology lab in Southern Arizona, at Tucson Medical Center, 1966, leading to the growth of gastroenterology for the southern state.

Upon his retirement, Mac’s love of animals led him to become a docent with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum for 20 years., He was also an active member of the Tucson Medical Center Auxiliary, working at the information desk, driving patients and visitors through the halls of the hospital where devoted many years of his life. Mac devoted much of his time to caring for animals, becoming one of the first doctors to perform animal endoscopies, working with the veterinarian Dr. Tom Miller, removing everything from tennis balls and rocks to ballet slippers and pantyhose from dogs, cats, hyenas, and even snakes. He also offered care for Tucson Police Department’s police dogs, and at Reid Park Zoo he provided physical examinations to animals such as the resident male sun bear and the tiger with gastroenteritis.

Mac is survived by Lynne, his wife of 28 years; his three children, Ruth Jones, Bonnie Jean (Kenny) Wilson, and Bruce; their mother Jean; Mac’s grandchildren Ashley (Carson) Mehl, Thatcher Jones, Jesse (Jessica) McGregor, Jenna (Joe) Allen, Brittany McGregor; and three great-grandsons with one great-granddaughter on the way.

The family sends sincere thanks to Dr. Jeff Mayer and Dr. Larry Lincoln, and to everyone at Peppi’s House, Mesquite House, and Bayada Home Care for their loving support and help during Mac’s last months.

The family is planning a Celebration of Life on May 6th at 10:00 AM in Marshall Auditorium at Tucson Medical Center (5301 E Grant Road). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Peppi’s House.

“Today, we have to get organized!”