Scholar, physician and tennis champ who cared deeply for his patients; mentor to physicians, nurses
NORTH READING — Jose (Joe) G. Garcia Jr., M.D., 81, a resident of Massachusetts and Florida, passed away peacefully at his daughter’s home in North Reading on Thursday, March 31, 2022. He was the adored husband of Henedina (Helen) Garcia, M.D., for the past 54 years.
Joe was a jovial soul. Born in the Philippines on May 29, 1940 to Jose and Patria Garcia, Joe and his sister, Norma, enjoyed their simple post-World War II childhood playing with their cousins and raising farm animals. His gentle smile would light up every room and his happy-go-lucky demeanor showed that he loved life.
From a young age, Joe developed two passions: food and tennis. He was a firm believer that food is love, and he happily gave and received good meals with great excitement and enjoyment. When not keeping company at the kitchen table, he could be found challenging opponents with his one-handed slice backhand on the tennis court. Joe was a champion for the Philippines Junior Davis Cup Tennis Team and played competitively throughout school and beyond. He used tennis as a way to stay fit, but also as a means to meet people and have fun. Fiercely competitive, yet always compassionate, he adjusted his game to accommodate any opponent so they saw an initial glimmer of hope before being humbled in the final set. He played competitively throughout adulthood, winning several tournaments after performing long surgeries; he said he could hit the ball in his sleep.
Joe was a hard working scholar and physician. His initial aspiration was to become a priest, but his mother expressed her strong belief that he was meant to be a family man. Instead, mentored by his aunt, he followed in her footsteps and made practicing medicine his vocation. He attended Manila Central University for college and medical school. He was a born leader, serving several continuous terms as class president, tennis team captain, and academic fraternity officer. He worked hard to maintain scholarships and spent long hours in the pathology lab for extra stipend. He did not complain about the extra cases; he was fascinated by the microscope and dissection. His most rewarding assignment from his pathology professor was to tutor a student in the next lower grade. This is how Joe and Helen’s romance began, over cadavers and cell blocks.
Joe’s hard work and academic success brought him to the United States in 1964 to pursue the American dream. After his general surgery internship and residency, he completed a fellowship in oncology surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, Cornell Medical School, in New York. For over 40 years, he ministered to the sick, healed the suffering, and comforted the dying. He always believed in “paying it forward” and mentored other foreign graduates, advocated for female physicians, sponsored talented Filipino nurses to the U.S., and served as town police and fire surgeon.
He also believed in “giving back” and was the longest serving president for the Manila Central University Medical Alumni Foundation in America to support medical students and faculty. He also committed his time to Physicians Against World Hunger and collaborated with his wife to raise funds for the Peekskill Community Health Center to address the needs of the underserved.
Joe was a family man. He returned home to the Philippines in 1967 to marry his first and only love. Together they raised their family, built their medical careers, and supported their community. They became parents one year after marriage, and going forward they lovingly always called each other Mommy and Daddy, even on hospital rounds. Joe woke up early to pack school lunches. He hustled home from the hospital to watch school performances, cheer at games, and attend teacher conferences. He told creative bedtime stories, chronicled events with his camera, begrudgingly rode roller coasters, and drove his wood paneled Chevy station wagon several times from New York to Florida so his family could see Mickey Mouse and the beach.
He loved celebrating his birthday and found it necessary to wish family members a happy birthday before 6 a.m. so they knew he was happy they were born. At parties, he always led the dancing and singing. He was flat out obsessed with his grandchildren, who lovingly call him “Paka.” He had a special relationship with each of them, speaking to them daily about school, friends, sports, and music. He taught his family to persevere through any hardships or struggles life throws at you. He led by example and instilled in them the importance of faith and humility.
Joe is lovingly survived by his wife, Dr. Henedina (Helen) Garcia; their children, Dr. Geraldine (Gigi) Garcia-Rogers and her husband, John Rogers, of North Reading, and Dr. Dinamarie (Didi) Garcia-Banigan and her husband, Brian Banigan, of North Reading. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kyle and Lucas Garcia-Rogers and Xavia and Gabriel Banigan. Joe is further survived by his many nephews, nieces, and dear friends he adopted as family.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, 63 Winter St., North Reading, on Saturday, April 9 at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be held at the Douglass, Edgerley, and Bessom Funeral Home, 25 Sanborn St., Reading on Friday, April 8 from 4–7 p.m. Burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery in North Reading.
In lieu of flowers, his family would welcome gifts in memory of Joe to support the Lonnie Norris Scholarship for Inclusion and Diversity at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, established by Gigi in Joe’s honor. Checks can be made to The Trustees of Tufts College and mailed to P.O. Box 3306, Boston, MA 02241-3306; please note “Norris Scholarship – IMO Garcia” in the memo line. Gifts can also be made directly by visiting: https://go.tufts.edu/NorrisScholarship, with a note that it is in memory of Jose Garcia.
For directions and online guest book visit www.johnbdouglassfuneralhome.com.
The family kindly request that all attendees wear face coverings.