Peter H. Mason ’46 died on January 28, 2015, in Millinocket, Maine.
(The following was provided by the Bangor Daily News in January 2015)
Peter H. Mason, M.D., 89, died Wednesday, January 28, 2015 in Millinocket. He was born November 21, 1925 in Willows, California, the son of the Rev. Otis L Mason and Ella A. (Olsen) Mason.
Being the son of a pastor, Peter moved several times as a child, living in Willows, California, Greeley, Colorado, Somerville, Massachusetts, and eventually in Saco, Maine, where he was living when graduating from Thornton Academy.
Peter served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the V 12 program, and was drafted into the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War as part of the “Doctor Draft”, serving as Surgeon-Captain at the Sampson Air Force Base in Geneva, New York.
He worked on his undergraduate studies at Bowdoin College and Bates College, and attended Dartmouth Medical School, and earned his M.D. at Tufts University Medical School in 1948. After completing his college education, medical school, and surgical training, he moved to Millinocket in 1955 where he established a surgical practice. He maintained his practice for 40 years. In 1976, Randy Jackson, P.A. joined the practice and worked with him until 1995, when Dr. Mason retired. During his 40 year career in Millinocket, Peter was a surgeon at Millinocket Regional hospital, serving as chief surgeon from 1955 to 1980, and was president of the medical staff there from 1980-1985. He was an instructor in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Advanced Trauma Life Support, and was president of the Maine Chapter of the American College of Surgeons from 1972-1973. During his years of practice, Peter was a member of the New England Surgical Society, the AMA, the American College of Surgeons, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons. His board certifications were Diplomate with the American Board of Surgery (1957), Fellow with the American College of Surgeons (1959), and Diplomate with the National Board of Medical Examiners (1949).
When not practicing medicine, Peter enjoyed boating and water skiing on North Twin Lake with family, and in the winter months down hill and cross country skiing. An avid hunter and fisherman, Peter loved fly fishing for trout at Daicey Pond, and bird hunting with his Brittany and Gordon Setters. A violinist, Peter held a lifelong appreciation for music. He organized a quartet of singers in the Katahdin Region, the Timbertones, who sang Barbershop music for several years. Over the course of time, Peter developed a botanical interest in finding and identifying wild Maine orchids. He will be missed by many in the community he served so well for so many years.
Peter is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara A. (Hansen) Mason of Millinocket; three children, Sarah Toye and her husband Lawrence of Burlington, MA, Mark Mason, DVM and his wife Patricia of Brunswick, and Christopher Mason of Walden, MA; four grandchildren, Bethany O’Regan and her husband Keith of Burlington, MA, Cody Mason of Portland, Hansen Mason of Boston, MA, and Tucker Mason of Brunswick; a former daughter in law, Gail Mason, DVM of Brunswick; and three great-grandsons, Keon, Cole, and Kaden O’Regan, all of Burlington, MA.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Cummings Health Care, Katahdin Health Care, Millinocket Regional Hospital for the excellent care given to Peter and the many courtesies extended to the family over the past few years.