John W. Webb

He grew up in Portland graduating from Deering High School. He started studies at Mass College of Pharmacy, but his education was put on hold when he was drafted by the Army in his sophomore year. While waiting to go overseas he was selected to attend a pharmacy technician program at Fort Sam Houston. After being discharged from the service he returned to Mass. College of Pharmacy where he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees. In Portland he worked at H.H. Hayes Store on Congress Street and at Bachelder's Drug Store in the Rosemont section. In 1951 he became Chief Pharmacist at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT. He was also on the faculty at University of Conn. College of Pharmacy. From 1959 until his retirement in 1984 he served as Director of Pharmacy at the Mass. General Hospital and Mass. Eye and Ear as well as having administrative responsibility for pharmacy service to the Shriner's Burn Institute in Boston. He served on the faculty of both the Mass. College of Pharmacy and Northeastern University College of Pharmacy. He was director of the graduate program in hospital pharmacy at Northeastern for 20 years. In 1985, Northeastern established the John W. Webb Visiting Professorship in his name. A longtime member of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, he served as Vice President of the Society and as a member of the Board of Directors for several years. He also served as Vice President and President of the Mass. Society of Hospital Pharmacists

John introduced the use of infusion pumps to administer IV solutions, a system which is now common practice in hospitals throughout the world. This process, for the first time, saved lives of premature babies with severe infections, reduced the incidence of blindness and strokes and saved millions of dollars in health care costs. It also allowed the infusion use of IV solutions to astronauts in outer space where there is no gravity. He also developed MOSAICS, a distribution system which brought the pharmacist to patient care units, working alongside nurses. The system reduced hospital costs and medication errors.

He is predeceased by his wife Ruth (Sherry) Webb, his brother Carlton "Bill" Webb, and his sister Myrtle "Betty" Gailey. He is survived by three sons and daughter -in- laws, John and Denby of Shaker Heights, OH and their children John & Jennifer; William and Bonnie of Holderness, NH and their children Richard and Rebecca; and Robert and Susannah of Glastonbury ,Ct. and their children Gus, Lucy and Thomas.

There will be a celebration of John's life at the North Deering Congregational Church, Portland on Saturday, March 26 at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115 to support the Webb Lecture Series.

Arrangements are being handled by the Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portland.

Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign John’s guestbook.