NAUGATUCK — Dr. John P Elser, M.D., 84, died peacefully after a long illness on Saturday, March 26, 2016, at the Glendale Center in Naugatuck, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of the late Rosanne (Doherty) and the late Lorraine (DePasquale) Elser.

Dr. Elser was born December 23, 1931, in Bronx, N.Y., the son of George and Laura (Wendling) Elser. He graduated from Fordham Preparatory School in 1949 and continued his education at Fordham University, Class of 1952.

He graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1956. Shortly after, he began his internship and residency at Waterbury Hospital.

He served in the medical corps of the U.S. Army for two years after completing his residency and was stationed in San Antonio, Texas, and Portland, Maine.

He settled in Naugatuck in 1960 and opened his private practice on Meadow Street in the specialty of family medicine. He was happy when his son, J. Michael Elser, M.D., joined him in the practice of primary care medicine in 1986 and they were able to practice together as part of the Medical Associates of Naugatuck on Church Street until his retirement in 1996.

Dr. Elser was on the staffs of Waterbury Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital. He was an active member of the Waterbury Hospital community and served as chief of staff from 1994 to 1996, when he retired after practicing for 35 years.

In addition to his private practice, Dr. Elser served as assistant state medical examiner and town health officer, and also assisted in establishing the first renal dialysis facility in the Waterbury area.

He was the first medical director of both Beacon Brook Health Center and the Glendale Center (of which he was one of the original owners) and remained in these roles until his retirement.

Dr. Elser was a dedicated communicant of St. John of the Cross Church in Middlebury and was deeply rooted in his faith. He enjoyed helping others in the community; he was a founding member of the St. Francis School Foundation in Naugatuck and volunteered at the St. Vincent DePaul Shelter in Waterbury.

His most enjoyable volunteer involvement was as a greeter at the Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center in Waterbury, where he had the opportunity to help patients smile and laugh.

Dr. Elser was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and cherished spending time with his family. He enjoyed traveling the world and entertaining his friends. He had a tremendous sense of humor and will be greatly missed by those who knew him.

He leaves his children, Jeanne Chenier and her husband, Matthew, of Holyoke, Mass., J. Michael Elser, M.D., and his wife, Sheila, of Middlebury, James J. Elser, Ph.D., and his wife, Monica, of Polson, Mont., Jacqueline Hoey and her husband, Paul, of Brandon, Miss., Jayne Welch, Esq., and her husband, David, of Brandon, Miss., and Joan-Marie McCasland and her husband, John, of Naugatuck; 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial took place April 1 at St. John of the Cross Church in Middlebury. Burial followed in St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck. Arrangements were by Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Naugatuck.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John of the Cross Church, 1321 Whittemore Rd., Middlebury 06762; Holy Cross High School Fund, 587 Oronoke Rd., Waterbury 06708, or St. Vincent DePaul Society, 38 Willow St., Waterbury 06710.

For online condolences, to share a story or a photo, visit www.fordfh.com.