Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
John Scarborough Obituary
Professor John S. Scarborough
MADISON - Professor John S. Scarborough, 82, passed away on June 26th in Madison.
He was Professor Emeritus at the School of Pharmacy and the Departments of Classics and History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his B.A. from Baker University 1961; Master's University of Denver 1963 and He received his PhD in Roman History at the University of Illinois in 1967. He spent one year at the University of Kansas School of Medicine where his interest in Ancient Medicine developed. He was a Fellow at Wolfson College at Oxford University in 1981. He received an honorary doctorate from Baker University in 1992. He taught at the University of Kentucky from 1966 to 1985. He had published widely on Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Pharmacy and Medicine.
He's survived by his five children, Jack, Debbie, Roxanne, Isaac, Amber and his wife, Yasemin and his sister Kathy Dumas.
His body has been donated to the UW Medical School.
Memorial services will be held privately.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Scarborough
6 Entries
notinthedesert
April 16, 2025
Love ya dude
michael crace
December 22, 2022
My heart goes out for the family. Dr. Scarborough has been with me since 1966 when I started at UK because he gave me something I treasure and that is a love for history in general and the Roman Empire in particular. By profession I am an engineer but in my early years at UK I had to find an electives to take. One day my roommate asked me to go to his Roman Law Class and take notes. I was mesmerized by the class and the teacher. That was John. Well, I went to Viet Nam, survived, and was able to send John a message a few years ago to tell him that on one person he made a difference. I had no idea he had passed away and am so sorry. Im 75 years old and of all the teachers I have had, Dr. John Scarborough was that teacher that made a difference. Again my condolences to his wife and children. Michael Crace
Dr. Patricia Baker
July 18, 2022
I was fortunate to meet Professor Scarborough during the early stages of my academic career. as a specialist in Ancient Medicine. I got into ancient medicine at the end of my MA at FSU because one of my FSU classmates had taken Professor Scarborough's Greek and Roman Medicine class when they were an undergraduate at UW. He gave me the books from the class, which changed my world, and I have them to this day. John was kind, supportive, encouraging, and a good laugh. One of the great ones, who will be missed, and if it weren't for the books from his class being passed to me, I do not know where my career would have gone.
Jonathan K Kern
July 18, 2022
Dr Scarborough was absolutely my favorite teacher through my entire education. He was my advisor for my topical major in numismatics at the university of Kentucky, class of 1973. His inspirational teaching helped direct my life into classical coin dealing where I´ve received intellectual gifts I never knew to ask for. He can never be replaced, but I´m sure he helped spread his love of classical history far and wide. My condolences to his loved ones.
Andrea Riddle Hilliard
July 13, 2022
Dr. Scarborough was my absolutely favorite history professor at the University of Kentucky. I took every course I could in my 3 years at UK. He was inspiring, and his examinations were challenging. He asked creative questions designed to draw us into the historical period we had been studying, but they were also not what one would expect from a more "traditional" academic approach. Hard to explain, but I always enjoyed his classes. My condolences to his family.
Deborah Gaines
July 13, 2022
I had Dr Scarborough in 1976 and thoroughly enjoyed his class `History of Greek and Roman Medicine ". My sympathy to his family.
Showing 1 - 6 of 6 results
Make a Donation
in John Scarborough's name
Memorial Events
for John Scarborough
How to support John's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor John Scarborough's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
