Jacob Karas

Bob certainly came up with a great suggestion and reading about our classmates has been just fascinating! I would like to try something slightly different and still provide you with a personal update. As a premed sophomore at UMASS I occasionally came home for a weekend.During one such weekend I was riding by Mr. Beach's house on Humphrey Street and saw him working in his garden. Although I never had a long conversation with him previously, something propelled me to stop. We spoke for about ONE hour and that began a special relationship that continued nearly every time I returned home. Early in my Junior year my advisor at UMASS encouraged me to apply for early acceptance to medical school and several months later I learned that I would entering the freshman class at George Washington University in the fall of 1963. I could not wait to share my good news with Mr. Beach and when I did he shared something very special with me. He had planned for some time to sponsor me for the Roland Jackson Scholarship for Marblehead and Swampscott graduates studying medicine or arts. Thanks to Mr. Beach the cost of my four years of medical school was completely covered and we continued to see each other regularly thereafter. I will never forget this wonderful and special man who made my medical career possible. 

  After graduating from GW in 1967 Phyllis and I ( we were married in 1965) returned to Boston where I completed my internship, residency and pulmonary fellowship at the Boston VA in 1971. I entered the army as a major and was assigned to Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu where I served as Chief of Pulmonary and Infectious Disease. Phyllis, Adam(age 4), Josh(6mths) and I lived in 

Kailua on the windward side of Oahu and had 2 incredible years there that I recently shared with Bob. We traveled to the other islands as well as Japan. We returned to Marblehead in 1973. I joined the medical staff at Lynn Hospital and opened their first Department of Respiratory Care. I later joined the staff at Union and became Medical Director of the ICU, Several years later I became Chief of Medicine and Director of Medical Education. After we merged with Salem Hospital in 2004 to create North Shore Medical Center, I became Vice Chair of Medicine and Director of Medical Education for both campuses. I am still serving in both capacities and seeing pulmonary patients in my office 2 days per week. I love my work and it has been a wonderful life living in Marblehead and professionally caring for friends, neighbors and relatives for 44 years. Phyllis became a Professor of Journalism at Boston University where she taught for 20 years and published 11 books including a New York Times best seller. Adam attended Marblehead High School (1985), graduated from University of Vermont and became a Regional Manager for a New England home care company. He lives in Middleton with his wife Amy ( speech pathologist), Jason(12), and Danny(9). Our grandsons are great students and athletes. Joshua graduated from Marblehead High in 1989. After graduating from Duke and UConn Law School he became a real estate lawyer, practicing in Salem. He lives in Marblehead with Chalese( Real Estate) and Belle(10). We see Belle regularly since she is in love with our dog Gracie(3 yr old Cavapoo). Belle is sweet and studious and will graduate from Marblehead High in 2025!

 Our family loves to travel and ski both here and in Europe. We skied out west for many years and then bought a second home at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire where we ski every week of the winter. We boat in the summer out of Marblehead harbor and squeeze in a little golf once a week. I am still playing doubles tennis every Monday night thru the winter. Life is very sweet and I am grateful to be celebrating my 75th on August 8th( with Donnie Orne). I am looking forward to seeing some of you at the Big Birthday Party next month

- Jack Karas