Wm. John Powell

Wm. John Powell died peacefully at his home in Duxbury, MA. on December 26th. He was surrounded by his family and beloved Scottish Terriers.

John was born in Pittsburgh, PA. in 1935 and moved to Duxbury in 1945 with his parents, Geraldine and William Powell. He attended Fessenden School, St. Paul's School, Harvard University and Columbia Medical School. Following his residency at Yale he served out his tour of duty at the National Institutes of Health.

John was a research fellow at the Cardiovascular Physiology Lab at the National Heart Institute headed by Stanley J. Sarnoff where he won the American College of Cardiology's Young Investigator's Award. His friendship with Dr. Sarnoff continued throughout his life as he served on the Board of the Sarnoff Foundation which awarded research scholarships to inspire future physician-scientists.

John was a Cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital from 1966 to 1987, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He served as the President of the Massachusetts Heart Association from 1984 - 1986. He expanded his research by joining Merck Pharmaceutical Co. as their Vice President of Research Worldwide, retiring in 1999.

He was a member of the Harvard Club of Boston, and the Duxbury Yacht Club. John was passionate about family, enjoyed sailing, gardening, music, travel and winters on Sanibel Island where, as a child, he attended the island's one room schoolhouse.

John is survived by Nan, his wife of 43 years, his son John and wife Britta, his daughter, Cynthia; stepdaughters Jennifer Ratchford, Dara Grasso and husband Richard.

Funeral services will be private, with a celebration of life to be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the MSPCA: https://www.mspca.org/, the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society: https://duxburyhistory.org/ or the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village: https://sanibelmuseum.org/.