Eugene P. Whittier Jr. M.D.

1926 - 2018

GREENFIELD - Eugene P. Whittier Jr., M.D. of Greenfield passed away on July 27, 2018 following a period of declining health. He was born on 2/21/26 in Winthrop, MA. He attended Winthrop schools, serving as vice president of the Class of '43. He began premed studies at Dartmouth College which were interrupted in 1944 when he was called to duty. Following basic training in Anniston, AL, he was deployed to combat service with the US Army 63rd Infantry Division "Blood and Fire." A fellow 63rd vet described his duties as this, "He was a Light Weapons Infantryman and as such would have been at the forefront of any attack against the enemy or attack by the enemy." His awards and decorations for his service include the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal among several others.
Following his discharge, Whittier completed his studies at Dartmouth, then entered Boston University Medical School. It was there he met his former wife Lucile Sage. They both received their Medical Degrees in 1952. The couple and son moved west where he interned at the Swedish Hospital in Seattle.
The Whittier family relocated to Ashfield in 1956. Although he loved the area and most of all the people, he found that the rural setting demanded the skills of a true general practitioner and he realized that his interest was to focus on internal medicine. He returned to the Boston area to obtain further education, then returned to Franklin County in 1962 settling in Greenfield where he maintained a robust medical practice with privileges at both the "Franklin" and the "Farren" hospitals. He was a past president of the Franklin County Medical Society and a founding associate of the Deerfield Valley Internists medical group. He retired at the end of 1995.
Dr. Whittier leaves behind his sons Jeff Whittier of Mountain View, CA, Richard Whittier of Sequim, WA, Gene Whittier, III of Gulf Shores, AL and his daughter Lindsay Whittier-Liu (Michael) of Florence, MA, grandsons Thomas Miao Whittier, Nicholas Miao Whittier, Benjamin R. Liu and granddaughter Aubrey Jean Whittier.
His daughter Diane Louise Whittier predeceased him at the age of 8 on August 16th, 1965. It was the most tragic event of his life from which he never truly recovered. His brother Paul Whittier Sr. and sisters Olivia Blazo and Evelyn Hardy predeceased him as well.
The family would like to express our warmest thoughts and appreciation to his companion Arlene Sweeney. Many years ago they had worked together at "DVI." Over the last decade they reconnected as neighbors at the "Green Acres" high rise. Her companionship certainly kept him going over a lengthy period of declining help. Special thanks to her son Steve for assisting as well.
Services will be private at his request. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to raise a glass in toast and make a charitable contribution to a cause of their choosing.