John Calvin Barefoot
January 29, 1942 - April 11, 2023
Chapel Hill, North Carolina - John Calvin Barefoot died peacefully at the UNC Hospice Home in Pittsboro after a long illness.
John was born in Asheville, NC, to Edna Earle Killian Barefoot and Lexie Glen Barefoot. He grew up loving the mountains and working at his father's drug store. He frequently visited his extended family in Four Oaks, NC, where he learned to appreciate a good Eastern NC barbecue.
After graduating from Lee Edwards High School in 1959, John earned a BS from UNC-CH in 1963, an MS from Bryn Mawr University in 1965, and a PhD from UNC-CH in 1968. He worked as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Dartmouth College from 1967 - 1970 and moved to Carleton University in Ottawa from 1970 - 1979, where he became an Associate Professor of Psychology. He returned to Chapel Hill to do a post-doctoral fellowship in Biostatistics in 1979. From 1983 until his retirement he was an Associate Research Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Duke University Medical Center where he specialized in investigating the correlation between psychosocial factors and heart disease. He was granted a Fogarty Fellowship in 1993 to work in conjunction with University of Copenhagen in Denmark, where he and his wife Martha spent summers for two decades.
John married Martha Ann Bagby of Richmond, VA on June 20th, 1964 in Birmingham, AL. Together, they built a beautiful home and family. In his younger days, he enjoyed hiking, playing golf, and traveling the world. As he aged, he loved classical music, walking in his neighborhood, and sitting on his back porch. John taught his children to love and respect the natural world, to embrace scholarship and science, and to appreciate the diversity and complexity of all humanity.
He is preceded in death by his son, John Christopher Barefoot, a sister, Loretta Barefoot Carriker, and a brother-in-law, Donald Carriker. He is survived by his wife, Martha, a daughter, Martha Killian Barefoot (Christopher Yeager), four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a loving extended family, and a network of friends.
A memorial service will be held in the Auditorium at Carolina Meadows (100 Whippoorwill Lane, Chapel Hill, NC, 27517) at 11:00am on Sunday, April 23rd. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, his family asks for donations to The Triangle Land Conservancy in his name.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News & Observer on Apr. 14, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for John Barefoot

Sponsored by American Cremation & Funeral Service.

6 Entries

Archie McRee

December 29, 2023

Dear Martha
Dear Martha, my name is Archie, Mcree. I was John`s roommate for one year at Chapel Hill and knew him for quite a few years there. I discovered his obituary and wanted to tell you that I am truly sorry for your loss, and I truly admired John and his interact and all of his capabilities.
I went on to live most of my life in New England now live in Montana near one of my daughters. I too am in hospice care a year older than John. Just wanted you to know how much I admired him and remember him driving up to Virginia every weekend to see you my best to you and your family

Beverly Brummett & Mike Babyak

Planted Trees

Judy Frey

Planted Trees

Stephen Boyle

April 17, 2023

I was deeply saddened to hear about John´s passing. John was my mentor when I came to Duke in 2001 and soon became my friend. John was a very serious and accomplished scientist and his work on the health consequences of cynicism and mistrust is still cited today, some of it almost 40 years after it was first published. That is real impact. As important as his research was to him, his family was more important. I can recall many conversations that started off research-related that drifted into the personal aspects of our lives. Talking about Martha, Killian, Chris, and the Grandkids inevitably created a smile on his face. It was clear how much John loved and adored his family. Some of my fondest memories of the Behavioral Medicine Research Center are me, Bev, and John sitting in his office joking and laughing and occasionally discussing research. I will always remember John as I continue to apply the lessons he imparted to me through his kind mentorship. Thank you, John. And God bless you, Martha, and the rest of the family.

Carolyn Zeliff

April 16, 2023

With love and prayers during this difficult time. Carolyn Zeliff.

Beverly Brummett

April 13, 2023

I was deeply saddened when I heard that my mentor and friend had passed away. John had a great sense of humor, yet was a very serious minded person who cared passionately about his family, science, and travel. I'll always remember him coming to my office to tell me a silly joke, to discuss statistical methods, or to critique a recent manuscript. He will be missed by me, and many many others. He was blessed to have Martha, a loving wife who shared his passions in life. In my option John lived life to be proud of and lived it to the fullest.

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