Dr. Arthur O. Phinney Jr.

Dr. Arthur O. Phinney Jr. died peacefully in his sleep at home, on December 9th, after a long and full life. He was 97 years old and had been in declining health in recent years. The cause of death was complications from old age. He is survived by his sons, Terry (spouse Helen) and Jonathan (Manley), his daughter, Susan (Robert), and his daughter-in-law, Sue. Another son, Christopher, pre-deceased him. His wife of sixty-two years, Dorothy or Be, died in 2012. Art is also survived by six grandchildren, Barton, Jonathan, Arthur IV, Brooke, Alden, and Clare and two great grandchildren, Declan, and Adelyn. In addition to his immediate family, Dr. Phinney is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and his dear friend Clare Smith.

Art was the middle son of the Reverend Arthur O. Phinney and Lucille Flagg Phinney. He was born in Boston in 1926 and spent his early years in Lynn and Winchester, Massachusetts, where his father was an Episcopal minister. Art had two brothers, Frederick (Fred) who was an Episcopal priest and William (Bill) who was the Head of Dexter Southfield School in Brookline, Massachusetts for over fifty years. Bill survives both his brothers.

Dr. Phinney's early academic years were spent in the Lynn and Winchester public schools. He graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover in 1944. Upon graduation, Art enlisted in the US Navy and became a radar technician. He was stationed in the Philippines and was honorably discharged in 1946. Art was a graduate of Harvard College, Class of 1950 and earned a B.S. in Biochemistry. He was also an athlete during college, swimming on the Harvard Varsity Men's Swim team.

Art graduated from Columbia University Medical School, College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1953. He did his internship and residency at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. He and his family spent a year in London in 1959 where he had a cardiology fellowship at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. Upon their return from England, the Phinney's moved to Farmington, Connecticut.

While at Harvard, one of Art's best decisions was to go on a blind date with Be Turnbull. This meeting later led to marriage and a family. Art and Be were married for over 60 years and had a strong and loving partnership, raising a family, entertaining extended family and friends and traveling abroad. Both were active in East African health and education. Art was on the Board of Amref Africa Health ("The Flying Doctors").

Dr. Phinney was a physician in the Hartford area for almost 40 years. He started as a general practitioner in Farmington, joining the practice of Dr. James Marshall. After eight years, Dr. Phinney specialized in cardiology and moved his office to the Medical Building near Hartford Hospital. For over 30 years, Dr. Phinney grew his cardiology practice from a solo practitioner to one of the largest cardiology practices in the Hartford area. Dr. Phinney was also active with UCONN Medical Center from its start. Using his clinical experience, he helped design the Intensive care unit as he believed that patient care should be managed from a central location and that ICU rooms should be easily accessible for both patients and medical staff.

While Dr. Phinney was a medical professional at his core, he had many hobbies and interests. He loved carpentry and working with his hands. He was famous for saying "it is perfectly good, why throw it out". Throughout his life, Art tinkered with projects at his workbench. He was an excellent athlete and enjoyed tennis, skiing, sailing, swimming, hiking, and canoeing. He was still swimming in his early 90's.

Art and his family spent summers on Chappaquiddick Island, Edgartown, Massachusetts where he built a rambling beach house. He finished the interior with the help of his children and babysitters (as apprentices). Art and Be spent many happy years sailing with friends as far north as Newfoundland and as far south as the Caribbean. His profession as a doctor was a bonus on seagoing excursions.

Education was essential to him, and he often remarked that "a good education is really the only thing that you can give your children".

Religion and music were also priorities for Art. He was a former Senior Warden at St James Episcopal Church in Farmington. His children were confirmed at St James, and most were acolytes and sang in the choir. When he was growing up, Art learned how to play the piano and violin from his mother. As a child, he was a soloist in the boy's church choir.

A memorial service will be held at St. James Church in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. James Church (www.stjamesfarmington.org); The Farmington Land Trust (www.farmingtonlandtrust.org); Amref Health Africa (www.amref.org). Arrangements are being handled by The Ahern Funeral Homes, Inc., www.ahernfuneralhome.com.