Hanover, N.H. —
John was born Dec. 15, 1931 in The Bronx, N.Y., son of John Lawrence (Sr.) and Mary (Alexander) Dunn. He was the younger of two brothers, Thomas James being the elder. As a young child, John and his family moved to Larchmont, N.Y. He attended Mamaroneck High School, graduating in 1949. John then enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, graduating in 1954. He is a lifelong member of Sigma Chi fraternity. While at University, he met his future wife, then Dianne Phyllis Hawk. John and Dianne were married in 1954 in Glendale Calif. and, in 2017, celebrated 63 years of devoted marriage. He went on to study medicine at Jefferson Medical College, also in Philadelphia, where he received a degree in medicine. In 1959, John and Dianne moved to Hanover where he interned and was resident in Pathology at the then Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital. He went on to practice Pathology with Mary Hitchcock which evolved into today’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. John and Dianne moved from Hanover to Norwich in 1968 where they resided until moving back to Kendal at Hanover in 2012. John faithfully and caringly served the residents of the Upper Valley during 40 years of medical practice with his expert skills in diagnosis while also managing the hospital laboratory. John eventually became chair of the Dartmouth Hitchcock Pathology Department. He retired from Dartmouth Hitchcock in 1999.
Throughout his life and career in the Upper Valley, John continually gave of his time and talent in service to the community. He served as Chairman of the Norwich School Board, followed by a term as Moderator of the Dresden School District. He believed that the best gift he could give his neighbors was the finest possible education for their children. In his positions with the Norwich and Dresden boards, John always fought to make the schools in his care the best they could possibly be. John was very generous to causes he believed in or that touched his heart, giving steadily to a variety of worthy causes including; children’s charities, animal rights, protection of the environment and many others.
Through his life John had many interests and hobbies. He was a great lover of classical music, especially the Opera where he was a generous supporter of local companies. He was fascinated with photography, especially classic film-cameras, creating wonderful images his family will treasure along with his memory. Other interests included railroading, history, environmental protection and sustainable living. He read voraciously on many subjects, never losing his appetite for learning.
John leaves behind Dianne, his wife of 63 years, 4 children, John Lawrence III (Lance) of Norwich, Paul Alexander also of Norwich, Amy Lynn (Roy) of Corvallis Ore., and Andrew Thomas of Redmond Wash. John also leaves 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. A private celebration of John’s life will be held in the coming weeks at the farm he built and loved in Norwich.
John’s family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to: High Horses Therapeutic Riding Program, Sharon Vt. http://highhorses.org/donate/
Messages of condolence may be expressed with the family through an online guestbook by visiting www.rickerfuneralhome.com.