Deceased December 11, 2019

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In Memory

Our classmate and friend Jeffery James “JJ” Tucker died Dec. 11, 2019, after a recurrent illness. He was born in Evanston, Ill., March 27, 1945, and was raised in Houston. He was a graduate of the St. John’s School before matriculating to Amherst. His father, Garrett Jr. ’36; uncles Henry McCormick ’34, Edward Burnell ’33 and James Tucker ’41; and brother Garrett III ’59 were all graduates of the College. A biology major at Amherst, Jeff graduated from Tulane Medical School in 1979 and then returned to Houston, where he trained and then taught and practiced orthopedics for more than 30 years. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. At Amherst, Jeff was a varsity crewman and a loyal brother of Delta Kappa Epsilon. He was an avid hunter, skier and fisherman both in Colorado and in his beloved Texas hill country. He was a member of River Oaks Country Club and St. John the Divine Episcopal Church.

He is survived by his twin daughters, Julia and Catherine; their spouses; and four grandchildren. Also surviving is his wonderful wife, Anne, to whom Jeff was deeply devoted. They met in high school and were married for 52 years.

Jeff’s over-the-top personality matched his 6-foot, 4-inch frame. Physically imposing yet personally gentle, he was a great friend, a wonderful father and a loving husband. He was a highly respected and greatly admired physician. Personally and professionally, he achieved greatness. May his memory be a source of comfort to all his friends and family.

Mike Boxer ’67, Chuck Woodard ’67, Rick Clarke ’67 and John Rhodes ’67