John Tower was born September 6, 1925 to Dr. Arthur A. and Marjorie (Cramton) Tower of Meriden, Connecticut and graduated from Meriden High School. His college years at Dartmouth College were interrupted by service in the 3rd Armor Division during WWII. After graduating from Dartmouth College, he attended medical school at Dartmouth and Case Western Reserve Medical Schools.
John married Elizabeth (Betsy) Bingham in 1949, while they were attending medical school. He completed his pediatric residency at Grace New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1954 the Towers moved to Anchorage at the urging of pioneer Alaska physician Dr. C. Earl Albrecht. Their first home and office was on Second Avenue.
John and Betsy were active people who played tennis, skied, fished, and hunted. They flew their planes throughout Alaska and the Lower 48. In 1959 they built a cabin near Talkeetna, which their children and grandchildren continue to enjoy. Their friendships with many other young couples who arrived in Anchorage around statehood endured throughout their lives.
Dr. Tower and Dr. Helen S. Whaley founded the Anchorage Pediatric Group in 1956. He cared for Anchorage's children until his retirement in 1991. Many patients fondly remember Dr. Tower's ear wiggling, hangman signature and drawings of six- legged, two-tailed dogs. Dr. Tower was instrumental in getting signs posted along Anchorage's bike trails encouraging riders to "Save a Brain, Wear a Helmet". He volunteered as a pediatric consultant at Anchorage Native Medical Center during his early years in Anchorage and continued his interest in Native health concerns through work on the Indian Health Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He served as Chief of Staff for Providence Hospital and helped spearhead the creation of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit there.
Dr. Tower was an Anchorage Parks and Recreation Commissioner for many years and felt one of his finest achievements was helping expand Anchorage's recreational spaces. His interest in astronomy led him to build his own telescopes, which he noted worked almost as well as the Hubble Telescope. He was intellectually curious and read an eclectic variety of books. In his later years, he consumed an impressive library of "Great Courses" lectures by noted professors.
John was an active member of the "Mightly Moose" Senior Bridge Club. He enjoyed attending musical performances and the recitals of his six grandchildren. Though challenged by mobility and declining health from a stroke suffered 10 years ago, Dr. Tower maintained his trademark sense of humor.
John is survived by his children and their spouses, and his six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Tower.
In lieu of flowers, it was requested that donations in Dr. Tower's memory could be made to Anchorage Parks Foundation.
(Obituary from Janssen Funeral Home)
John married Elizabeth (Betsy) Bingham in 1949, while they were attending medical school. He completed his pediatric residency at Grace New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1954 the Towers moved to Anchorage at the urging of pioneer Alaska physician Dr. C. Earl Albrecht. Their first home and office was on Second Avenue.
John and Betsy were active people who played tennis, skied, fished, and hunted. They flew their planes throughout Alaska and the Lower 48. In 1959 they built a cabin near Talkeetna, which their children and grandchildren continue to enjoy. Their friendships with many other young couples who arrived in Anchorage around statehood endured throughout their lives.
Dr. Tower and Dr. Helen S. Whaley founded the Anchorage Pediatric Group in 1956. He cared for Anchorage's children until his retirement in 1991. Many patients fondly remember Dr. Tower's ear wiggling, hangman signature and drawings of six- legged, two-tailed dogs. Dr. Tower was instrumental in getting signs posted along Anchorage's bike trails encouraging riders to "Save a Brain, Wear a Helmet". He volunteered as a pediatric consultant at Anchorage Native Medical Center during his early years in Anchorage and continued his interest in Native health concerns through work on the Indian Health Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He served as Chief of Staff for Providence Hospital and helped spearhead the creation of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit there.
Dr. Tower was an Anchorage Parks and Recreation Commissioner for many years and felt one of his finest achievements was helping expand Anchorage's recreational spaces. His interest in astronomy led him to build his own telescopes, which he noted worked almost as well as the Hubble Telescope. He was intellectually curious and read an eclectic variety of books. In his later years, he consumed an impressive library of "Great Courses" lectures by noted professors.
John was an active member of the "Mightly Moose" Senior Bridge Club. He enjoyed attending musical performances and the recitals of his six grandchildren. Though challenged by mobility and declining health from a stroke suffered 10 years ago, Dr. Tower maintained his trademark sense of humor.
John is survived by his children and their spouses, and his six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Tower.
In lieu of flowers, it was requested that donations in Dr. Tower's memory could be made to Anchorage Parks Foundation.
(Obituary from Janssen Funeral Home)
John Tower was born September 6, 1925 to Dr. Arthur A. and Marjorie (Cramton) Tower of Meriden, Connecticut and graduated from Meriden High School. His college years at Dartmouth College were interrupted by service in the 3rd Armor Division during WWII. After graduating from Dartmouth College, he attended medical school at Dartmouth and Case Western Reserve Medical Schools.
John married Elizabeth (Betsy) Bingham in 1949, while they were attending medical school. He completed his pediatric residency at Grace New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1954 the Towers moved to Anchorage at the urging of pioneer Alaska physician Dr. C. Earl Albrecht. Their first home and office was on Second Avenue.
John and Betsy were active people who played tennis, skied, fished, and hunted. They flew their planes throughout Alaska and the Lower 48. In 1959 they built a cabin near Talkeetna, which their children and grandchildren continue to enjoy. Their friendships with many other young couples who arrived in Anchorage around statehood endured throughout their lives.
Dr. Tower and Dr. Helen S. Whaley founded the Anchorage Pediatric Group in 1956. He cared for Anchorage's children until his retirement in 1991. Many patients fondly remember Dr. Tower's ear wiggling, hangman signature and drawings of six- legged, two-tailed dogs. Dr. Tower was instrumental in getting signs posted along Anchorage's bike trails encouraging riders to "Save a Brain, Wear a Helmet". He volunteered as a pediatric consultant at Anchorage Native Medical Center during his early years in Anchorage and continued his interest in Native health concerns through work on the Indian Health Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He served as Chief of Staff for Providence Hospital and helped spearhead the creation of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit there.
Dr. Tower was an Anchorage Parks and Recreation Commissioner for many years and felt one of his finest achievements was helping expand Anchorage's recreational spaces. His interest in astronomy led him to build his own telescopes, which he noted worked almost as well as the Hubble Telescope. He was intellectually curious and read an eclectic variety of books. In his later years, he consumed an impressive library of "Great Courses" lectures by noted professors.
John was an active member of the "Mightly Moose" Senior Bridge Club. He enjoyed attending musical performances and the recitals of his six grandchildren. Though challenged by mobility and declining health from a stroke suffered 10 years ago, Dr. Tower maintained his trademark sense of humor.
John is survived by his children and their spouses, and his six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Tower.
In lieu of flowers, it was requested that donations in Dr. Tower's memory could be made to Anchorage Parks Foundation.
(Obituary from Janssen Funeral Home)
John married Elizabeth (Betsy) Bingham in 1949, while they were attending medical school. He completed his pediatric residency at Grace New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1954 the Towers moved to Anchorage at the urging of pioneer Alaska physician Dr. C. Earl Albrecht. Their first home and office was on Second Avenue.
John and Betsy were active people who played tennis, skied, fished, and hunted. They flew their planes throughout Alaska and the Lower 48. In 1959 they built a cabin near Talkeetna, which their children and grandchildren continue to enjoy. Their friendships with many other young couples who arrived in Anchorage around statehood endured throughout their lives.
Dr. Tower and Dr. Helen S. Whaley founded the Anchorage Pediatric Group in 1956. He cared for Anchorage's children until his retirement in 1991. Many patients fondly remember Dr. Tower's ear wiggling, hangman signature and drawings of six- legged, two-tailed dogs. Dr. Tower was instrumental in getting signs posted along Anchorage's bike trails encouraging riders to "Save a Brain, Wear a Helmet". He volunteered as a pediatric consultant at Anchorage Native Medical Center during his early years in Anchorage and continued his interest in Native health concerns through work on the Indian Health Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He served as Chief of Staff for Providence Hospital and helped spearhead the creation of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit there.
Dr. Tower was an Anchorage Parks and Recreation Commissioner for many years and felt one of his finest achievements was helping expand Anchorage's recreational spaces. His interest in astronomy led him to build his own telescopes, which he noted worked almost as well as the Hubble Telescope. He was intellectually curious and read an eclectic variety of books. In his later years, he consumed an impressive library of "Great Courses" lectures by noted professors.
John was an active member of the "Mightly Moose" Senior Bridge Club. He enjoyed attending musical performances and the recitals of his six grandchildren. Though challenged by mobility and declining health from a stroke suffered 10 years ago, Dr. Tower maintained his trademark sense of humor.
John is survived by his children and their spouses, and his six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Tower.
In lieu of flowers, it was requested that donations in Dr. Tower's memory could be made to Anchorage Parks Foundation.
(Obituary from Janssen Funeral Home)
Inscription
-----Tower-----
John Cramton Tower
Pioneer Alaskan Physician
9/6/1925 --- 6/27/2011
Elizabeth Ann Bingham Tower
Alaskan Physician and Historian
8/1/1926 --- 9/27/2010
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