TowerTalk Volume 2 Issue Nr. 7, September 1981

              Vol. 2, No. 7 September, 1981.
Soint Joseph Hospital, Denver, Colorado ,
In Our Memory: Dr. John Holyoke
Many members of the medical
community will retain precious me-
mories of John Bartletf Holyoke,
killed in a climbing accident on
Aug. 14.
In a memorial service held at
Saint Joseph Hospital on Aug. 19,
special tribute was paid by Sister
Mary Andrew and Dr. Jon Boline to a
very beloved member of the Medi-
cal Staff. Some of their thoughts well
express our feelings for a man who
accepted every person whose path
crossed his and who recognized the
dignity of each individual.
Of him, Dr. Boline noted, "John
was not concerned with the riches of
life, only the richness of life. His rela-
tionships with others were always
supportive. He helped us to focus on
the positive and the beauty of ex-
perience and our environment.
"Interchanges with John left one
with an enhanced sense of self-
worth. He developed for us a com-
municative, straightforward and
honest approach to the quality prac-
tice of medicine. This legacy leaves
the entire staff with a dedication to
continue this spirit in all
our activities."
Sister Mary Andrew reflected that,
"We gather together today as a
community of friends to share our
sorrow at the loss of one of our most
dear friends, Dr. John Holyoke. We
all wish to express our sympathy to
Alice, Meg, Julie, Polly and Edward
Holyoke and their families.
"It is customary at a memorial ser-
vice to use a scripture text, but today
I wish to use Dr. Holyoke's text. He
and I often used to have a cup of
tea and philosophize about life and
all its facers. One day, some nine
years ago, Dr. and I were chatting
and he casually said, 'Well, Sister, I
have always just tried to live my life
so as not to every hurt anyone.' This
was indeed his guiding principle that
enabled him to accept himself,
accept every person whose path
crossed his, and to recognize the
dignity of each individual.
"Dr. Holyoke was blessed with a
marvelous simplicity which en-
deared him to all. He loved the
mountains � as he and I drove to
Steamboat Springs one day, he
named each mountain and told me
some of its history. And on many
Monday mornings Dr. Holyoke
would pop into my office and say,
'Well, Sister, Saint Joseph Hospital is
registered on top of another of Co-
lorado's mountains... yesterday I
signed Saint Joseph Hospital and
John Holyoke in the register on top
of the mountain.
"Now Dr. Holyoke's name is regis-
tered in the hearts of all of us at Saint
Joseph. We were indeed fortunate
to have known and loved Dr.
Holyoke, a man who truly matched
his mountains."
To those who have struggled with
them, the mountains reveal beauties
they will not disclose to those who
make no effort. That is the reward
the mountains give to effort. And it is
because they hove so much to give,
and give it so lavishly to those who
will wrestle with them, that men
love the mountains and go back to
them again and again.
Dr. John Bartlett Holyoke, killed in o
mountain-climbing accident Aug. 14,
approached life and the people who
crossed his path with zest and compas-
sion. He mode us all richer and will be
sorely missed.