Bernard Sargent Hoyt

1925 - 2023

Bernard Sargent Hoyt, D.O., of Grove City, beloved husband of the late Jane E. Hoyt, passed away on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the age of 97.
He was born Sept. 5, 1925, in Holyoke, Mass., the son of Mildred Elizabeth Metzner and Mason Noble Hoyt and was a longtime resident of Grove City. Bernard (Bernie), who attended Holyoke public schools and his high school years at Monson Academy, graduated in June 1942.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 1942, just after his 17th birthday and with his mother's consent. After boot camp at Parris Island, and now a rifle expert in the 1st Marine Division, he was ordered to the South Pacific theater. There he participated in the Treasury-Bougainville operation of retaking the islands. When combat ceased he chose not to return to the United States to recover from trench foot, but to attend Marine aviation training in a rear area. He returned to the theater serving as a navigator/bombardier on board a B-25 Mitchell, flying out of Stirling Airfield, Treasury Islands. He was honorably discharged in December 1945.
Utilizing the GI Bill, Bernie both attended and graduated from Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, Class of 1949, and Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, Mo., Class of 1953. In 1954 he completed his internship at Bashline Memorial Hospital in Grove City, and returned to Kirksville for his residency at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine General Surgery, from 1957 to 1960. While attending Kenyon College and working as head waiter in the dining hall he met his future wife, Jane Elizabeth Grossman. A year after his graduation, in 1950, they were married in Gambier. Together they embarked upon a lifelong journey to provide medical care and philanthropic support to their communities and around the world.
Bernie established his clinical practice within the Mercer Osteopathic Clinic, in Mercer. He later expanded and developed a second office in Grove City at the Pine Medical Center. His surgical practice was conducted at several area hospitals and he was a founder of the Shenango Valley Medical Center. His primary hospital affiliations were the Bashline Memorial Hospital, Grove City Hospital, then in 1978 the two hospitals merged, becoming United Community Hospital. Dr. Hoyt dedicated much of his spare time advancing his medical and other knowledge via his active participation in various professional societies i.e., the American Osteopathic Board of Surgeons, the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association as well as being selected as an examiner on the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
Bernie was an active, longtime member of the Church of the Epiphany. He served on the boards of directors for the Mercer County Crippled Children, Grove City Area School District, United Community Hospital, and later, Grove City Medical Center. He was past district chairman for the Boy Scouts in Mercer County and was honored in a special banquet for his service. Both he and Jane were consistent supporters of the Grove City College Music Program and were long time patrons of the Mercer Community Band.
The Mercer and Grove City Rotary clubs and Rotary International were foremost of the numerous service organizations he was active in. Often serving in a leadership role, Bernie reached a pinnacle when he became District Governor of Rotary District 7280, a district stretching from Erie to Cranberry Township. For his decades of service and outreach he was recognized and honored in numerous ways; Mercer Rotary in December of 2004 honored him with the Outstanding Service Award and in the following year, 2005, created the Dr. Bernard Hoyt Community Service Award; the Rotary Clubs of Mercer, Grove City and Slippery Rock held a special banquet in his honor on May 6, 2015, for his embodiment of the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self." At the recent Rotary District 7280 Conference on May 20, 2023, he was honored with the Outstanding Rotarian Award for his 71 years of service in Rotary.
He enjoyed international travel, often incorporating additional medical training or providing humanitarian medical aid on those trips. One pure pleasure trip was to take one of the last flights on the supersonic airliner, the Concorde. When not serving others, he strove to provide to his family those things he desired in childhood. Bernie lived a remarkable life. He spread his generosity to countless people and organizations. He always lent a helping hand, a listening ear and always an open heart. Bernie was a beloved husband, amazing father to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. And now, Bernie is holding Jane's hand in Heaven, forever.
Survivors include daughter Barbara (Clifford) Wise, of Grove City; sons, Dr. David (Tracey) Hoyt, of Mercer, and Douglas (McCallum) Hoyt Sr., of Russell Township, Ohio; three grandchildren, Melinda (Eric) Pedersen, of Concord N.H., Douglas (Megan) Hoyt Jr., of Columbus, Ohio and Mason Wise, of Washington, D.C.; and three great-grandchildren, Mabel Jane Pedersen, William Callan Pedersen and Celina Marie Hoyt.
HOYT - A service celebrating the life of Bernard S. Hoyt, who died Saturday, July 8, 2023, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 29, 2023, at the Church of the Epiphany, 870 Liberty St. Extension, Grove City, with the Rev. Patricia Lavery presiding.
The family will be receiving friends at the church prior to the service from 9:30 until the service at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to The Rotary Foundation, or the Mercer Community Band or by an expression or act of kindness or love to others.
Arrangements are made through SMITH FUNERAL HOME, Slippery Rock.