John E. Prior

Jack Prior, 70, of Factoryville, Pennsylvania, died at home on Friday, surrounded by his loved ones. Born March 26, 1955, in Port Hueneme, CA, he was the eldest son of John E. and Theresa (Hoeger) Prior. He leaves behind his siblings, Patti (Adam Nichols), Mark (Laurie Burke), and Matt Prior (Sharon Noel), and his well-loved children, Caitlin Prior and her husband Bill Sager, his son Matthew Prior, and Patrick Prior and his wife Jordan Walker Prior, and their three sons and Jack’s favorite people, Sullivan, Owen, and Rory. He also leaves Paula Roe-Prior, with whom he shared many years and his greatest gifts, his children, and Rose Graumann, his companion whom he loved deeply and who brought him so much joy in his final years.

Jack believed deeply in the goodness of people and that we should look out for one another, especially those who need it most. In medicine, he found what he was best at and what came so naturally to him—caring for others. Over a 40-year career, Jack taught hundreds of current and future physicians and cared for many thousands of patients. Seeing people improve in any way meant the world to him and was one reason he regularly volunteered with the Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Clinic for the Uninsured, a cause in which he believed wholeheartedly. Jack received many honors and awards for his life’s work, though you’d never know it.

If you knew Jack, you know he was the happiest when he was with his people: his nieces and nephews; the extended Prior and Roe clans; Rose’s family; his dinner and coffee crew; his hospital, office, and dialysis friends; his skiing buddies, just to name a few. He never met a person he didn’t assume the best of. He never will.

Jack loved a joke (good or bad), skiing fast, serve-and-volley tennis, hikes with Hazel (his beloved dog), offbeat music and dancing, the Phillies (good or bad), our grand National parks, the perfect sunset picture, and the dazzling stars. He could bake with the best of them.

A lifelong learner, he held boundless wonder for the world and cosmos. The next time you look up on a starry night, take a second to think of Jack. He’d like that.

A few of his happy places: Fenwick Island, Elk Mountain, Lambertville, his Christmas tree farm Sugar Hollow. A few of his favorite foods: Philly pretzels, Reading Terminal dumplings, and Manning’s milkshakes.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 21 from 2-4pm at Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., 111 Colburn Avenue, Clarks Summit, PA 18411.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to the Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Clinic for the Uninsured, payable to the University of Scranton, c/o University Advancement, 800 Linden St., Scranton, PA 18510. Contributions may also be made online by visiting: https://www.scranton.edu/makeagift. At the bottom of the form, please select “Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Clinic for the Uninsured” when making your gift.

Special thanks to the incredible nurses and doctors for their exceptional care and support over the past year and a half.