Dr. Harry Potter

Of Newton, passed away on May 31, 2023, at age 72. Harry was a loving husband to Betty Waxman, devoted father to Dr. Julie Potter and Dr. Carrie Potter and sons-in-law Vincenzo Bertoli and Dr. Colin Smith. He was a devoted grandfather to Luciano and Olivia Bertoli and Ross and Miles Smith. He was a loving brother to Jackie Potter, brother-in-law William Black, and uncle to Samuel and Daniel Black. He was a loving brother-in-law to Dr. Harvey Waxman and Susan Feldman and uncle to Matthew and Alex Waxman.

Harry was born on January 21st, 1951, in Portland, Maine to Arnold and Selma Potter. The youngest of three siblings, Harry was known as the family sweetheart who could coax anything from his mother with a snuggle. In high school, Harry got straight A’s and graduated second in his class, despite occasionally giving his teachers a run for their money. He attended the University of Michigan as an undergraduate, received a doctorate in neuroscience from MIT, and later went on to UMass Medical School. He was brilliant but also humble, preferring to introduce himself as Harry instead of Dr. Potter.

He met his wife, Betty, during the sixth week of college in the lunchline, and they were a couple from that moment on. They were married at age 22 and were one month shy of celebrating 50 years of marriage when he passed away. They balanced each other perfectly - she had the ideas and he handled the details. He was always focused on doing things to make Betty’s life easier. During graduate school, he typed Betty’s law school papers in addition to doing his own neuroscience experiments. They were creatures of habit; they bought their house in Newton in 1978 and never moved. For over 40 years, they were a fixture on Centre Street as they walked to Newton Centre to grab an ice cream or just to chat. Despite not being much of a traveler, Harry was a good sport about the many exotic trips the family took, and he looked back on them with joy. His happy place, however, was their vacation home on Cape Cod, where he and Betty enjoyed taking long rides on their e-bikes and hosting family and friends for dinner.

Harry was a devoted father. He took tremendous pride in his daughters, Julie and Carrie, and was always thinking of them. If he heard about a possible ailment or car problem they were having, he would call (or show up) at any hour of the day or night to help. He showed great interest in their work as a pediatrician and psychologist and loved talking with them about patient care. He doted on his four grandchildren, Luc, Olivia, Ross and Miles, and spent time with them weekly, reading, playing on the floor, and driving them to activities.

Harry worked as a primary care internist for 37 years in Framingham, most recently at Tufts MetroWest Medical Center. He was described by his colleagues as “a legend” and a “gifted clinician” who was “kind and decent to the people he touched.” Many of his patients said he was the best doctor they ever had and that he saved lives on multiple occasions. He gave out his personal cell phone number to patients so they could reach him whenever needed, and he was known to work over the weekend, even when he wasn’t on call.

Harry loved cars and sailing, passions that were passed onto him by his father. He had fond memories of piling into his mother’s Corvette with his siblings to go to Old Orchard beach. He could identify any model of classic car and loved to test drive cars even when he wasn’t planning to buy. Harry’s childhood sailing trips with his father were deeply meaningful to him, and he carried on this tradition with his daughters and grandchildren. He was an elegant skier, and he was happy that his daughters and grandchildren enjoyed the sport too.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, June 4 at 2:00 at Levine Chapels in Brookline with a private interment for family to follow. Shiva will take place on Sunday, June 4 from 6:30-8:00, Monday, June 5 from 4:00-6:00, and Tuesday, June 6 from 7:00-9:00 at the family homes. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Save Popponesset Bay.