John Anwyl Tucker M.D.

John Anwyl Tucker, MD of Avalon NJ, died of Parkinson's disease April 12, 2016. He was 86. John was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. Professionally, Dr. Tucker was an internationally renowned leader as a surgeon and academic in the field of pediatric otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat). Dr. Tucker was recognized for his medical expertise, his compassion and ability to connect with adolescent patients, and the collegial relationships he fostered with colleagues. Dr. Tucker followed in the professional footsteps of his father Dr. Gabriel F. Tucker, and older brother Dr. Gabriel F. Tucker, Jr., receiving the award named in their honor "For Excellence and Distinguished Contribution to Pediatric Laryngology" in 1991. Like his father and brother, Dr. Tucker was an innovator in developing laryngological instruments that became essential tools in the field. He served as president of the American Broncho-Esophagological Association, the American Laryngological Association, the Philadelphia Laryngological Society, and the Philadelphia College of Physicians Section on Otolaryngology, among many other distinguished appointments and memberships, including memberships in The American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology and the Collegium Oto-Rhino-Laryngologicum Amicitae Sacrum. Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Dr. Tucker held lifelong love and ties to the Philadelphia area, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1953, where he played with great pride on the sprint football team, and, after completing medical school at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 1957, beginning his work in otorhinolaryngology as a resident at Penn in 1958. He went on to make professional contributions of unique breadth to Penn and other Philadelphia-area medical institutions including Hahnemann University, Temple University, Drexel University, Allegheny University, Veteran's Hospital of Philadelphia, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, St. Mary's Hospital, Rolling Hill Hospital, Jeanes Hospital, Albert Einstein Medical Center, and Nazareth Hospital. He also served in the U.S. Army, as Chief of Section, Otolaryngology at Valley Forge General Hospital from 1961-1963, which he fondly recalled as reporting for duty by picking up his uniform in Center City and driving out the expressway. Dr. Tucker always recalled his extensive professional accomplishments and contributions with great humility, preferring to recount stories of individual children he felt privileged to help through his work. In his leisure time and later years John enjoyed spending time at the Jersey Shore, where he and his loving wife Mary Jane were married in Avalon, and were long-time members of the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor where they were known to close down the dance floor. He enjoyed watching Philadelphia sports teams, win or lose, and never missed an Eagles game. John is remembered by friends and family for his generosity, great sense of humor, and quick smile. He is survived by his caring wife Mary Jane, children Laura and her husband Alf Cromwell, John Jr., Paul, Bradford Gallagher and his wife Monica, Tiffany Gallagher Mathews and her husband Gordon, and Sean Tucker and his wife Kara; beloved grandchildren Lydia, Josh, and James Cromwell, Willa and Greta Mathews, and Ellen Tucker; and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents Gabriel and Beatrice Tucker, and brothers Gabriel and Chevalier Tucker. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to The National Parkinson Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131. Memorial Mass will be Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Brendan the Navigator Parish Maris Stella Chapel, 25th Street and First Avenue, Avalon, NJ 08202. Interment is private.