Dr. John M. Price, Jr.  - 97

John Price, 97, of Roslyn Heights, New York, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, intellect, and boundless curiosity. Born in Astoria, Queens and raised in Rockland County NY, John decided to become a doctor in the eighth grade after an inspiring conversation with Dr. Davies, who was in her 80's and the first woman doctor in New York State. He attended Dartmouth College, where he also discovered a love for skiing, biking, and squash. After enlisting in the U.S. Navy, he earned his medical degree on the GI Bill from New York University. At 24, in a testament to his adventurous spirit, he biked 600 miles in 10 days from Calgary, Alberta, through the Canadian Rockies, to Bellingham, Washington.

John completed his residency in psychiatry at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn and trained in child psychiatry at Columbia-Presbyterian, Hillside Hospital, and Long Island Jewish Medical Center. A Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, he dedicated his career to the field, serving as the Medical Director of the Queens Child Guidance Center for 33 years. He also maintained a private practice on Long Island.

Beyond his professional achievements, John had an enduring love for the natural world. As a passionate horticulturist and member of the Long Island Daylily Society, he specialized in breeding new cultivars of daylilies, cultivating 350 varieties that thrived in his garden, those of friends, and, when space ran out, at Clark Botanical Garden in Roslyn, NY. His love of nature extended to birdwatching, which began in the 1960s and led to a lifelong passion for ornithology and nature photography. He was also a dedicated conservationist, supporting the restoration of Long Island’s coastal prairie ecosystem through the Friends of Hempstead Plains.

An ardent philatelist and co-founder of the Long Island Postal History Society, John amassed an extensive collection of Long Island postcards and covers. Music was another great love of John’s life; Schubert’s Trout Quintet never failed to lift his spirits. Not one to slow down, he was an enthusiastic bridge player, and in his 80s, he took up abstract painting. John remained an avid tennis player until the age of 97.

John's warm and gentle nature radiated kindness, making everyone feel at home in his presence. He was known for his keen intellect and infectious, silly humor, and for his ability to listen deeply and offer comfort with just a few words. While he excelled in many things, rhythm was not among his many talents—his dancing was famously dreadful—but he embraced every moment on the dance floor with unbridled joy.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Kass; his former wife, Brenda Price, and their two children, Alex Price and Jennifer Peres; daughter-in-law Cristina Manjon and son-in-law Clay Peres; grandchildren, F. Joel Price and Julia Price; nieces, Katie Johnson and Rosalyn Juptner; and grandnephew Peter Cavenaugh. John had enough love in his heart for everyone, and during their more than 30 year relationship, Barbara's children and grandchildren adopted him as their own. Barbara's children, Rob Kass and wife Jennifer, Michael Kass and wife Kate, Gina Frederick and husband Steven, and grandchildren Matthew, Jason, Sky, Chloe, Nicole, Sam and Julia will all miss him dearly.

John's warmth, wisdom, and unwavering curiosity enriched the lives of all who knew him. John lived with passion and generosity, leaving the world more beautiful—not just through his work, but through the people and places he touched.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/john-m-price/obituary/

Copy