John D. (Jack) Hunter, MD, 93, passed away on Jan. 11, 2008. He was the son of the late Charles W. and Catherine (Atkins) Hunter, and grew up in Maplewood, NJ. He graduated from Cornell University and from Cornell University-New York Hospital Medical School. After an internship and residency at Meadowbrook Hospital he married the late Katheline McCluskey, and in early1944 they moved from Roslyn to 960 Plandome Road, Manhasset, where he set up his medical practice. After the death of Katheline, Jack was introduced to and married Audrey Devine, a Registered Nurse associated with the Nassau County Health Department. She worked with him in his office until his retirement.

Dr. Hunter is best known as the Manhasset "country doctor," who regularly made house calls. In 1954 he was certified as a Federal Aviation Administrator Medical Examiner, and in 1970 he became a Charter Member of the American Academy of Family Practice. He was on the staff of Manhasset Medical Center and North Shore Hospital when it first opened (both now affiliated with the L.I.J. Health System). He was also involved with Nassau Hospital (now Winthrop Hospital in Mineola) and on the staff of St. Francis Hospital.

He retired in 2001 at the age of 86 after 60 years of medical practice. His love of people was obvious to all who met him, as he made each person feel special by his gracious and devoted attention. Dr. Hunter touched the lives of many community members while he cared for the elderly, looked after their families, delivered many of them as babies, operated on them, made house-calls to their homes, comforted them during their losses through four generations, but people will remember him most of all as their trustworthy friend with an infectious smile and twinkle in his eye.

His love of community was expressed in many ways, including his devotion (since 1967) to daily raising and lowering the American Flag at the corner of Plandome Road and Plandome Court North located in front of his home and office. He and his convertible will be missed in the Memorial Day Parade, when he proudly drove local veterans.

Jack's hobbies included fishing, sailing, skiing, piano playing, traveling and rose gardening. As a member of Manhasset Bay Yacht Club since 1956, number four in seniority, he sailed his gaff-rigged yawl 'Stowaway,' served on the Race Committee for many years and loved going out in the peaceful early mornings to try to catch some fish.

Dr. Hunter was presented with a citation by the Medical Society of the State of New York in recognition of 50 years of devoted service to the public in medicine. In 2001 celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Plandome Heights Women's Club, Dr. Hunter was honored for his exemplary service to the community for over 60 years. Jack described the community as it was in those early years, but assured folks that longevity not withstanding, he didn't practice medicine during the horse and buggy era! He received another honor from by the Community Reformed Church.

After living an exciting full life, Jack died peacefully on Jan. 11, 2008 at St. Francis Hospital, age 93. A funeral Mass was held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Manhasset, and the burial was at Nassau Knolls Cemetery in Port Washington. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Audrey Devine; his three children, Nancy Kemper of Londonderry, Vermont; Susan McCarthy of Brisbane, Australia; and John Hunter of East Amherst, NY; as well as eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn.

Edward J. Clark, a resident of Port Washington for 45 years, passed away peacefully on Jan. 10. 2008. Ed and his family lived in Harbor Acres for 42 years. Ed and his wife Edythe moved to Mill Pond Acres three years ago where she still resides. He graduated from Columbia University in 1947. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII as a ball gunner in a B-24 Liberator. He was a district manager of the East Coast for Parker Pen for over 40 years.

Ed was very active in volunteering for the youth of our community for many years. One of his proudest accomplishments was coaching St. Mary's girl's basketball in Manhasset. He continued to coach there for over 25 years. His love of coaching continued with his own three children and many others with our local PYA program. Ed was either on the baseball field or football field guiding and instructing with the fundamentals of the game and good sportsmanship. He was honored and inducted into the PYA Hall of Fame for his many years of dedication. He was also on the board of directors of Harbor Acres for a number of seasons on the beach committee.

He leaves behind his loving wife Edythe, of 59 years of marriage, his devoted three children, Audrey Krastins (Reinis), James (Elizabeth) and Kevin (Susan). He was a loving pop-pop to his 10 grandchildren, Bryan, Amy, Lisa, Kevin, Alexandra, Madeleine, Dillon, Griffin, Jesse and Julie.

He was reposed at Austin F. Knowles Funeral Home and Mass of Christian Burial was at St. Peter of Alcantara RC Church. Interment private. Donations in his memory to Hospice Care Network, 99 Sunnyside Blvd., Woodbury, NY 11797, would be appreciated.