Dr. John (Jack) Sylvester Tobin, 86, died peacefully October 21, 2009 in Oklahoma City, OK.
Dr. Tobin was last a resident of Epworth Villa. He was born on May 14, 1923 in Philadelphia, PA to John Sylvester and Josephine Ulmer Tobin. Upon the early death of his father, John attended the residential Girard College in Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1939. In the next few years, John worked as a machinist at Baldwin Locomotive Works, where he rapidly rose to become foreman of the blockboring and preparation line.
John was drafted into the US Army in 1942, posted to the University of Nebraska for the accelerated engineering program of the Army Corps of Engineers, and then to India with the Medical Corps for work in hospitals servicing the Pacific Theater. At the end of the war, John transferred to the Reserve Corps (5th Army, Medical) until resigning his commission in 1965.
In 1947, John entered Temple University School of Medicine (MD ’52) and completed his residency in internal medicine at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Reading, PA (’54). As a newly minted physician, Dr. Tobin entered the emerging field of industrial medicine and accepted employment in health and safety directorships at several companies, such as General Motors, International Harvester, FMC, and NL Industries.
Subsequent to his degree in Medicine, Dr. Tobin earned a Masters in Public Health from the University of Michigan ('55). After retiring from American Cyanamid in 1985, Dr. Tobin became the Director of Health and Safety at the DOE Princeton Plasma Fusion Lab until final retirement in 1989.
During his career, John was active in the American Medical Association, served as Treasurer and President of the Industrial Medical Association (later becoming the American Industrial Hygiene Association), published articles on toxicology and occupational medicine in peer-reviewed journals from 1968-87, taught Industrial Medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, advanced the importance of preventative medicine, and convinced corporate entities of the value of providing onsite health and safety services.
John led a rich personal life. In 1949, he married Angeline N. Musik of Hamilton, Ontario, whom he met in class at Temple University in Pennsylvania. With Angie he successfully reared five children. As a proficient carpenter with an eye for colors and design, he enjoyed rehabilitating aging houses into warm and spacious homes. John was a Master Gardener, an active member of several United Methodist Churches, and took pleasure in music, reading, crosswords, and embarking upon travels following historical themes. John is fondly remembered as a quick-witted father who always had time to talk and a talented teacher equally versed in academics and technical skills. He was especially devoted to his eldest daughter, Leonore, who preceded him in death in 2006. John is survived by his loving wife, Angeline; children: Barbara (Oklahoma City, OK), Patricia (Medina, NY), Jeanne (Edmond, OK), and Gregory (Frederick, MD); his older brother, Fred Ottenbacher (Toms River, NJ); and a gaggle of wonderful grandchildren making their ways around the nation. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 at Epworth Villa Chapel.