He was born in Princeton, New Jersey on March 14, 1931 to John J. Harvey and Alice Elkington Harvey. As a teenager he was industrious and worked at a number of jobs, one of which was a delivery boy for Western Union Telegrams. It was at this time that he met Albert Einstein and agreed to caddy a golf game for him and Robert Oppenheimer.
John went to college at St. Francis of Lorretto, Pennsylvania and then on to Mill Nursing School at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. It was there that he met Mary Cromwell, whom he married in 1954. Together they raised four children and John began his Army career. He was first an enlisted soldier, because at that time, male nurses were not allowed to become officer! He spent several years as a psychiatric nurse at the Coatesville Veteran’s Hospital. Then he went back into the Army as a 1st lieutenant in 1961.
As a family the Harvey’s enjoyed the military life in Pennsylvania, Hawaii and San Antonio, Texas, where he earned his Bachelors degree in Nursing at the Incarnate Word University. From there it was California at Letterman Hospital; Fort Belvoir, VA as Assistant Nursing Director and finally Director. Next came Germany in the position of Chief Nurse at the US Army Hospital in Berlin and after a time, went to Landstuhl Army Hospital for several years. He was Director of Nursing at a number of large Military Hospitals, the last of which was Letterman, CA where he retired in 1988.
During his retirement he enjoyed hiking and hike leading on Mt. Tamalpais with the Mt. Tamalpais Interpretive Association. Also liked going to plays and symphonies, which he often did.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary; daughters, Patricia, Mary Beth and Lisa Grady; son, John C. Harvey; granddaughters, Rachel Bessey and Shauna Harvey; grandsons, Trevor Grady and John and Lucas McKinon; great-grandchildren, Olivia and Pierce Bessey; sister, Joyce Berra and husband Lou; brother, Paul Harvey; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 16, 2012 in the chapel of Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown, Texas with Chaplain Dean Hamilton Officiating. He will be interred at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to American Heart Association, Planned Parenthood, or any other charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564.
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