John Cunningham Brothers, MD, age 74, died on Saturday, November 9, 2013 in his home. He was the son of the late Sarah White Cunningham Brothers and Mack Prater Brothers, Jr. and brother of the late Sally Ann Brothers Oliver (Tucker) and Mack Prater Brothers III.
He is survived by his wife, Anne Carter Brothers; children, John Cunningham Brothers, Jr. (Laura), Carter Randolph Brothers (Jennifer) of Roanoke, VA, and Robert Cary Brothers of Los Angeles, CA; he was the beloved "Babo" to his granddaughters, Courtney White, Anne Peyton, and Mary Burwell of Roanoke, VA, and Laura Grace and Sarah Madison; he is also survived by his brother, The Honorable Thomas White Brothers (wife, the late Lura Bainbridge Brothers) and sister-in-law, Ann Huddleston Brothers.
Dr. Brothers attended Parmer School and graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy, Tulane University, and Vanderbilt Medical School. After a residency in orthopaedics at Vanderbilt, he achieved the rank of Lt. Commander in the Navy and served his country treating wounded servicemen at Chelsea Naval Hospital in Boston, MA. Some of his fondest memories came during this time living in nearby Marblehead, MA. He started his practice at the Nashville Orthopaedic Clinic in 1972 and helped introduce the technique of arthroscopic surgery in Tennessee. In addition, he took care of a generation of young athletes as the MBA Football team physician for the next 17 years. He co-founded Premier Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in 1996. John was adored by his patients for the old-fashioned way he cared for them, even making "house calls" when necessary.
He was a founding member and former President of the Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Society and Chief of Staff at West Side Hospital. He served as President of both the Nashville and Tennessee Orthopaedic Societies as well as President of the Nashville Surgical Society. In addition, he was a member of the Southern Orthopaedic Association, the Clinical Orthopaedic Society, the Society for Arthritic Joint Surgery, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
He was a lifelong golfer as well as Vice-President and two-time director of the Belle Meade Country Club. In retirement, he set up a woodworking shop at home and joined the Tennessee Association of Woodturners. A wealth of friends led to many nicknames: Goober, Amazing, Dr. J, and Dr. B (especially to his dedicated nurse Sandi Johnson). He was a kind, gentle man who will be remembered for how much he selflessly gave to the lives of others, expecting nothing in return.
Long a champion of the teaching of young orthopaedists, his request was to remember these young men and women on his behalf with memorial contributions to the Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Society in care of the Resident's Education Fund (Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Institute, Medical Center East, South Tower S-4200, Nashville, TN 37232-8774). Contributions can also be made to Montgomery Bell Academy.
Services will be held at St. George's Episcopal Church, where John was a member for almost 50 years. Visitation with the family will be from 2-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 17th. Memorial Service with Holy Eucharist will be at 3 p.m. on Monday, November 18th.
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