Deceased October 23, 2009
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In Memory
Philip Giddings, M.D., passed away on Oct. 23, 2009; he was born on Jan. 27, 1913, to Dr. Harold G. and Mildred P. Giddings.
Philip graduated from Amherst (Alpha Delta Phi) in 1934 where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1938. He went on to complete an internship and general surgery residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Johns Hopkins Medical School.
Philip married Grace Elizabeth Fist on May 24, 1941. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a captain in the Army Medical Corps in the Mediterranean Theater. He served in two D-Day landings, one at Anzio, where he was severely wounded. He ultimately returned to duty and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
At the conclusion of the war, he remained in Italy for several months, helping to write a multi-volume set of books detailing what had been learned about the treatment of war wounds. This set remained the definitive work on the subject for many years.
Upon his discharge from the army, he began his medical practice in Boston, moving to Bennington, Vt., in 1950 where he set up his surgical practice and served as chief of surgery at the Putnam Memorial Hospital (now the Southern Vermont Medical Center) until 1975.
Philip’s life was filled with family, friends, travel, stamp collecting, word games, classical music and sailing. He was especially fond of tennis, which he played well into his 80s. A lover of nature and avid bird watcher, Phil’s last 15 years were spent happily at Wake Robin Life Care Retirement Community in Shelburne, Vt.
Philip is survived by his wife of 68 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Fisk Giddings; three sons, Robert F. Giddings ’65, David G. Giddings ’69, James P. Giddings ’69; and a daughter, Deborah G. Lawrence.
Robert Giddings '65