John P. McDermott

Madison-John P. McDermott, M.D. died of cancer on June 22, 2011 at Hospice. He was born in Gratiot, Wisconsin on Dec.18, 1918 to Dr. Leo and Mae (Macken) McDermott. John was the eldest of five children, Kathleen, Robert, Geraldine (Fred Dreher) of Madison and Gerald. He is preceded in death by his parents and youngest brother, Gerald. John graduated from Madison Edgewood in 1936. He then attended the University of Wisconsin graduating with a degree in Biology in 1940. On September 26, 1942 he married his high school sweetheart, Irene Geier at Holy Redeemer Church. He then attended Northwestern Medical School and graduated in 1944. Following a rotating internship at Cook County Hospital, John served in the Navy and was stationed in Japan at the close of World War II. He returned stateside and completed a general surgery residency at Hines VA Hospital in Chicago. John and Irene returned to Madison, where he began his practice in General Surgery at St. Mary's Hospital and Madison General. John and Irene were blessed with seven children, Deanna (Jeff Soik) of Lodi, Mari (Dale Werner) of Watertown, John of Madison, Mark (Lena) of Detroit Michigan, Leo (Cheryl) of Endwell, New York, Joseph (Pat) of Chantilly, Virginia and Michael of Madison. He is preceded in death by his loving wife Irene (2000), Joseph his son (April 2010) and Leo his son (May 2011). John was a devoted husband, a loving father and a kind and compassionate physician. His passions included his children, grandchildren and playing golf at Odana Hills Golf Course. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Blessed Sacrament, 2115 Rowley Ave., Madison on Monday June 27, 2011 at 10:30am with burial to follow. A Visitation will be held on Sunday June 26, 2011 from 5 - 8 pm with a prayer service at 7 pm at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, Wisconsin. The family especially thanks Harold Borenstein, Henry Pitot, Isadore Fine, and his golfing buddies Kurt Kranz, Bob Selvey, Harry Sauthoff, Ed Wirka, Kent Hobson and Sanae Hirschler for their devoted friendship to our father. The family also wishes to thank Drs. Greg Sheehy, Fred Lee, James Cleary, and Toby Campbell and the staff at Hospice for their loving care of John.