John P. Knud-Hansen M.D.

1945 - 2025

John P. Knud-Hansen, M.D., FACS, BSI

John Parker Knud-Hansen passed away painlessly and peacefully Saturday, August 23 at the age of 79 after a long battle against cancer. His extraordinary heart of gold touched many lives, none more important than his children, siblings, and partner in love and life, Linda Laramy.

Dr. Knud-Hansen, (John in this obituary) was the first child of Lt. JG John I.F. Knud-Hansen, USNMC and Fredonia (Fritzi) Fulton Knud-Hansen, born Dec. 15, 1945, in Pittsburgh, PA. He lived with his mother in Mt. Lebanon while his father served in WW2 as a POW camp medic in Saipan. John the father and John the son did not meet for 18 months, but young John had several visits to St. Thomas, USVI where his father was born. John was the only of his siblings to spend time with their paternal grandparents, Dr. Knud Knud-Hansen and his wife Ruby.

Post-war. Dr. John I.F. Knud-Hansen spent 21 years in the Navy Medical Corps, including a three-year posting at the U.S. Naval Academy Hospital in Annapolis. The posting provided John with an active childhood of swimming, tennis, soccer, and many years of scouting. He also learned to sail as part of the original Severen Sailing Association.

Dr. John I.F. Knud-Hansen's final Navy posting was in Charleston, South Carolina, and swimming became the sport of choice for John and his siblings as part of the Cooper River Blue Angels team where competition raised to the state level. He was the valedictorian in 1964 for his high school, Porter Military Academy (now Porter-Gaud) and a member of the NROTC, which led to a scholarship to Yale University, class of 1968. He was enormously proud to have been an "Eli".

Dr. and Mrs. John I. F. Knud-Hansen chose Oxford, MD in 1964 to retire and start a private practice as a general surgeon at Easton Memorial Hospital. Talbot County residents still hold special respect for his skill, compassion and humility and it is just as true for Dr. John P. Knud-Hansen as he and his new family chose Easton for his practice as a urologist. Father and son had one opportunity to work in the same operating room when the elder Dr. Knud-Hansen served as surgical assistant to his son. When John was elected a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, he became the third Knud-Hansen doctor to earn that honor, following his grandfather and father. It was a first for the College to have three generations within 80 years.

John took a number of years to choose medicine, but by the mid-1970s he found it would take twice the work to fulfill the requirements to enter medical school. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rica medical school in Cayay, where he had to learn Spanish for many courses. After internships in Baltimore and Cleveland, John chose urology as his field and, as he did with everything in his life, he researched, studied and pondered every alternative before making that choice.

John Knud-Hansen worked harder than most to become a doctor, and he had a wealth of other interests such as Russian history, literature, camping, science and science fiction. He could quote The Hobbit (or any Tolkien book) at will and could write letters in the Viking language of runes. There is no way to understate the true passion John had for Sherlock Holmes; from an early age he loved the stories, the mystery, the puzzles to be solved. A major highlight in his life was becoming a Baker Street Irregular, the internationally recognized organization dedicated to everything "Sherlockian." John also loved Patrick O'Brien's seafaring series of Capt. Jack Aubrey and his ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin, who inspired John in his medical career.

John loved sports, all types of music, from Beethoven to Buffet, comedy in all its forms, from Bugs Bunny to Monty Python and anything Disney. He totally enjoyed poker from an early age. He made sure he had a seat at the Wednesday poker table at CBYC. He enjoyed the camaraderie at the Tred Avon Yacht Club, Wordle and crossword puzzles. He was proud when he completed handyman projects like a famous cardboard boat. In all things, John was intelligent, compassionate, opinionated, humble, polite, kind, funny and sentimental. He was a true gentleman.

John Knud-Hansen is survived by his children Grant (Baltimore), Robin (New York) and Drew (Colorado) who all were at his side when he passed away at his part-time home, that of Linda S. Laramy, truly the love of his life. They were partners of life, love, travel and fun for over 20 years. Her family was a treasured part of John's life, and he enjoyed being Uncle John to Linda's grandchildren.

John's siblings were able to be together Aug. 2-3 in Easton for a first-ever Knud-Hansen reunion that had been planned a year earlier. It was a beautiful twist of fate that everyone was able to personally see John and say goodbye. Losing their big brother are Erik (Maui), Chris (Boulder, CO) and Emilie (Oxford). Losing their beloved uncle are Chelsea Hussey (Hinckley OH), Kayla Grieves (Irish Hollow Galena, IL) Marissa Knud-Hansen (Westminster, CO) and Brent Knud-Hansen (Boulder). He had fondness and respect for the mother of his children, Carol Ranish of Easton.

A private graveside ceremony will precede a public reception, not yet scheduled.

Memorial donations may be made to the Dr. John H. Watson Fund, which gives financial assistance to young Sherlockians. Checks are payable to the fund and mailed to:

Dr. John H. Watson Fund

c/o Baker Street Irregulars

3040 Sloat Rd.

Pebble Beach, CA 93953

For online condolences, please visit www.fhnfuneralhome.com.