John T. Magee

1931 - 2016

John T. “Jack” Magee, M.D., of Haverford, PA., died on March 16, 2016 at the Bryn Mawr Hospital. He was 85. The only child of the late John J. and Margaret B. Magee of Bryn Mawr, he was born in the Bryn Mawr Hospital on February 16, 1931. He was to spend most of his professional life in and around that institution. Jack graduated from the West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys in 1949 as both Valedictorian for his class of over 500 students and as “West Catholic Man of Year”, an award based upon academic achievement and broad involvement in extra-curricular activities. Through the kindness of the Brothers of Christian Schools, he was awarded a partial scholarship to La Salle College (now University) and matriculated there in 1949. Four years later he graduated with a BA degree, magna cum laude and entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia receiving his M.D. in 1957. He completed an internship and two years of residency training in Internal Medicine at Bryn Mawr between July 1957 and June 1960, serving as Chief Resident in his last year. He served a one year clinical fellowship in renal and metabolic diseases at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington DC before beginning active duty as a Medical Officer in the United States Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune, NC. He completed two years of active duty before being discharged with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, MC, USNR. Upon returning to Bryn Mawr, Jack started a private practice in internal medicine and nephrology but after three years he was hired by the hospital to serve as Director of Medical Education. He was named as Director of the Department of Medicine in 1969 and served 25 years in that post, retiring in late 1994. A member of Jefferson’s volunteer faculty since 1964, he won several teaching awards and was promoted Clinical Professor of Medicine the 1979, a rank he held until his resignation in 2002. He served as a consultant in nephrology to the VA Hospital in Wilmington, the Valley Forge Army Hospital in Phoenixville and to the Lankenau Hospital. In addition to the usual clinical societies in internal medicine and nephrology, he held memberships in Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the American Association of Medical Colleges, The Association for Hospital Medical Education, the American College of Legal Medicine and the American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics. In retirement he work pro bono with the Physicians’ Health Programs of the Pennsylvania Medical Society triaging, referring and monitoring health care professionals with problems of substance abuse or other health issues interfering with their ability to practice safely. His principal efforts were devoted to physicians’ rehabilitation and license reinstatement, if required. From 1995 through 2007, he worked as a co-therapist for physicians in recovery and became in an adjunct member of both the Philadelphia and the American Group of Psychotherapy Associations. He was preceded in death by his wise and supportive wife of 54 years, Sarah A. “Sally” Magee (nee Brown), and survived by their three children: John C. Magee, MD (Melinda) of Ann Arbor MI, Margaret M. “Maggie” Costello of Broomall, Michael E. Magee of Bryn Mawr and six grandchildren. He is the dear grand-pop of Stephen L. Foley, Jr., Mara Streit (Alex), Christine M. Foley, Brittany S. Costello, and Poppy A. & Mabrey E. Magee. A Funeral Mass was held on Tuesday March 22nd at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church in Bryn Mawr, PA. Interment was private. In lieu of flowers, he left a request that those wishing to acknowledge his memory consider a gift to the Endowment Fund of the Physicians’ Health Programs, c/o The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, 777 E. Park Drive., P.O. Box 8820, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8820. Funeral arrangements by McConaghy Funeral Home, Ardmore. www.mcconaghyfuneralhome.com