John E. Ives

1929 - 2018

John E. Ives passed away on November 29 at Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, in Gainesville, FL.He was born in Hartford, Ct. in 1929. He graduated from Kingswood High School.He met his wife, Ann, in 1946 on a blind date and they were together until his death.He earned his BA from Dartmouth College in 1951, served in Korea as a Lt. and returned to earn his MS from Yale University in Hospital Administration in 1956. He was the Assistant Director at Yale University Hospital for 10 years, CEO of Middlesex Memorial Hospital in CT and the CEO of the University of Connecticut Hospital for 10 years. John was an accomplished golfer from an early age and a former member of the Hartford Golf Club.In 1977, John moved to Gainesville, FL to become the CEO of Shands Hospital. He was instrumental in making Shands a private not-for profit hospital, which has allowed it to expand into its present status. Also, during this time he helped establish the Ronald McDonald House of North Central Florida. Once retired he worked with Habitat for Humanity, but found his calling as a volunteer mediator in Alachua and Baker County and received an award for mediating 900 cases and more than 20 years.He is remembered by many, young and old alike, as a friend, mentor and leader.He is survived by his wife Ann of 67 years, son and daughter-in-law Ralph and Kelly Ives and two grandsons Justin (Dara) and Christian (Megan) and his two great grandchildren, Hunter and Bailey. He had two daughters who succumbed to Cystic Fibrosis. Kathy age 4 and Linda age 22.In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Ronald McDonald House of North Central Florida, https://www.rmhcncf.org/donate/secure-donation/. Please visit his memorial page at www.williamsthomasfuneralhome.com.