John A. Winder

John A. Winder

John A. Winder, MD, passed away peacefully on January 31, two weeks prior to his 82nd birthday. Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Winder cared for thousands of patients in his 39 years of practicing allergy and asthma in the Toledo area and Northwest Ohio. His career in medicine began as a young Army Doctor at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he was introduced to his future specialty of allergy and asthma. He completed his Allergy and Immunology Fellowship at the National Asthma Center in Denver (now called National Jewish), the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. This led him to establish his private practice, his primary passion, in allergy and asthma in his hometown of Toledo. Always compassionate toward his patients, he frequently accepted pierogi, tamales, and other homemade delicacies as payment from those in need. A strong advocate for patient education, Dr. Winder created two programs early in his career: a patient education program, "The ABC's of Asthma" and an asthma self-management program, "Wheezer's Anonymous." Later he established the Toledo Center for Clinical Research (TCCR) where he conducted clinical trials in pharmaceuticals, often enrolling eligible subjects who had no health insurance but would receive full medical care while participating in the studies. He eventually served on the highest board of his professional organization as a member of the Board of Regents for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology as well as a term as President of the Society of Principal Investigators.

His lifelong love of the University of Michigan football began when he completed his medical residency in pediatrics at U of M. As a born and bred Toledoan, he was a lover of Willys Overland CJ-2A Jeeps, and at one time had 14 Willys Jeeps in various states of functionality. Another passion in his life was fly-fishing and his beloved cabin, Limber Lost Lodge, on the Aus Sable River in Grayling, Michigan.

To be a part of John Winder's life, you needed to embrace an endearing amount of clutter and chaos, but you also would be totally accepted and supported, no matter your path. He was a great lover of nature, his friends and family, and particularly, his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Genevieve Winder; brothers, Gordon Jr. (Joanne), and William (Kay, Bonnie). John is survived by his beloved daughters, Jennifer and Julie; his wonderful sons-in-law, Tom Kunysz and John Lazor; and his cherished grandchildren, Morgan, Mae, Grace, Anna, and Jin. He is also fondly remembered by his former spouse, Judith Winder (Ron Lowy); and his longtime partners, Linda Baker and Melanie Schell. He shared a special bond with Linda's son, Jason, and Melanie's daughter, Fiona, both of whom he cared for deeply. Beyond his immediate family, he leaves behind many dear friends and extended family members who brought joy and love into his life.

Please consider honoring John Winder's memory through a donation to Trout Unlimited Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter in Grayling, Michigan, where he was a committed lifetime member. Memorial Donations may be made through their website, https://www.masongriffithtu.org/ or mailed to MGFTU, PO Box 502, Grayling, MI 49738. A Celebration of Life will be held in his honor in early spring.