Dr. Jack L. McCleerywhose 30 years of service as a doctor of internal medicine at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center had a major impact on the development of the Section of Gastroenterology at that institution, died January 17th from cancer. He was 74.

Dr. McCleery grew up in Hastings, Nebraska, where he excelled in academics and sports and was a member of the 1954 Nebraska state champion high school basketball team. After graduating from Hastings College in 1957, he studied medicine at The University of Chicago Medical School and received his medical degree in 1962. In 1962, Jack McCleery married Virginia Biba and they lived in Seattle, WA, and Miami, FL while Dr. McCleery trained in internal medicine and served in the US Public Health Service. He completed his fellowship training in gastroenterology at The University of Chicago. The McCleerys then moved to the Upper Valley, settling in Norwich, VT with their two children.

Dr. McCleery joined the Hitchcock Clinic in 1969 where he played a central part in developing the Section of Gastroenterology. Together with Drs. Maurice L. Kelley, Jr. and Thomas Almy, he initiated the fellowship training program in gastroenterology. Dr. McCleery was the first to introduce modern flexible endoscopy to the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Over the course of his career, he instituted innovative procedures, such as the specialized endoscopic technique of ERCP, which allows imaging and therapy of the bile ducts and pancreas, and had never before been performed in Northern New England. Dr. McCleery had a special interest in caring for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's and colitis, and he participated in a landmark study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, that defined Crohn's disease severity. Jack McCleery served as the Chief of the Section of Gastroenterology at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center from 1988 to 1997, retiring in 1998.

In his practice of clinical internal medicine, Dr. McCleery was greatly appreciated by his patients and highly respected by his colleagues. In addition, Dr. McCleery was a beloved teacher and mentor of medical students, residents and fellows at the Dartmouth Medical School. He was an associate professor of medicine and served on the Admissions Committee for the Dartmouth Medical School.

Dr. McCleery loved crossword puzzles and reading. He was an enthusiastic and excellent golfer, as well as an accomplished musician on both the piano and guitar.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia McCleery of Norwich, VT; his daughter, Lisa McCarty of Auburn, NH; his son, John McCleery of Nesconset, NY and his grandchildren, Erin McCarty, William McCarty, Samantha McCleery and Isabel McCleery.

A celebration of Dr. McCleery's life will be held at a later date. The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Chief's Research and Education Fund, c/o Dr. Richard Rothstein, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756.