Dr. John Henry Prunier of Greenwich died peacefully in his home surrounded by the family he loved so much on February 7th after a 14-year battle with multiple myeloma cancer and subsequently Alzheimer’s disease. Jack was a dedicated, tireless and compassionate internal medicine physician who practiced for 35 years in Greenwich. He was making house calls up until his retirement. Patients and hospital staff invariably describe his integrity, his selflessness and his personal warmth. Jack’s faith was an integral part of his life. Jack had a gentle manner, a fast pace and a mischievous sense of humor. Of Suzanne, he would wink and say, “She was my first and only girlfriend.” This May would have marked their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Jack was born in Elmira, New York in 1930 and graduated Colgate University in 1952. He received his MD from Cornell University New York Hospital where he completed his internship and also served as chief resident. In 1960 Jack served as a captain in the US Army medical corps; first in a M.A.S.H. unit in Korea then at Ft. Jay on Governor’s Island, New York. From 1962 to 1963 he served on the staff of Rockefeller University where he conducted research in genetics. That same year Jack and Suzanne married and moved to Greenwich to begin Jack’s practice and to start a family. Jack found great joy working in his garden and spending time with family and friends at the family home in Kennebunkport, Maine. One of his greatest joys, particularly in his later years, was his daily fast-paced walks around Tod’s Point, where he always marveled at the beauty of the place. Jack is survived by his wife, Suzanne, his son John, his daughters Georgette (David Brady) of West Chester, PA, Danielle (Steve Herman) of Los Angeles, CA, Christy (David Doss) of Riverside, CT and Julie (Shane McGrath) of Riverside, CT and 11-grandchildren as well as his brother and sister-in-law Paul and Eileen Prunier of Elmira, NY, his sister-in-law Frances Prunier of Elmira, NY and his sister and brother-in-law Mary Anne and Kevin Flemming of Ashburn, VA.
The family is deeply grateful to the following for their many years of compassionate and professional care: Dr. Sundar Jagannath of Mt. Sinai Cancer Center, Dr. Dickerman Hollister and staff of the Benheim Cancer Care Center at Greenwich Hospital, the West Haven VA Specialty Care Center, Barbara Duncan APRN of the VA Geropsych Department and Dr. Allison Ostroff, Greenwich gerontologist.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks donations be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (themmrf.org / 383 Maine Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851) or the Greenwich Point Conservancy (greenwichpoint.org / PO Box 377, Old Greenwich, CT 06870).
A wake will be held at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 31 Arch Street, Greenwich this Friday from 3pm to 5pm and 6pm to 8pm. A funeral will be held Saturday February 11th at 2pm in the church hall at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Riverside.
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