CENTER SANDWICH, N.H. – Dr. Josiah C. McCracken Jr., 90, a past moderator of the Center Harbor Congregational Church, Center Harbor, N.H., died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003, in Framingham, Mass. Joe McCracken was the brother of Martha McCracken Howard of Bangor. Dr. McCracken was a surgeon in southern New Jersey for more than 35 years. In 1976, he and his wife, Barbara, retired to Center Sandwich, N.H. The McCrackens helped lead a rejuvenation of the Center Harbor (N.H.) Congregational Church’s Sunday school, music programs and community outreach. For many years, Dr. McCracken was a trustee of Camp Tecumseh, a boy’s camp on Lake Winnipesaukee that his father helped found in 1903. Dr. McCracken grew up in China, the son of a medical missionary. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and lettered in basketball and in football, where he was called “the Shanghai Express.” He also earned the “Cane Man Award,” one of three top undergraduate honors. Dr. McCracken received his undergraduate degree in 1936, and graduated from Penn Medical School in 1940. During medical school he married the former Barbra Silvers of Ventnor, N.J. He joined the U.S. Army medical Corps in 1942, and was discharged in 1946 as a major. He served in the southwest Pacific area, including field hospitals in New Guinea, Bougainville (where he earned the Bronze Star) and the Philippines. From 1946-1975, Dr. McCracken was a surgeon in New Jersey, serving hospitals in Atlantic City, Somers Point and Sea Isle City. In 1974, the N. J. Medical Society of Atlantic County recognized him as its “Physician of the Year” in recognition of his “outstanding achievement both in medical practice and in working for betterment of patient care at the local and state levels.” Dr. McCracken is survived by three sons and one daughter, Jay and wife, Jane, of Tustin, Calif.; Larry and wife, Karen, of Chicago; Sally Smith and husband, Gary, of Framingham, Mass.; and Bruce and wife, Barbara, of Wolfeboro, N.H.; nine grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at the Center Harbor Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sandwich Care Givers, 519 Coolidge Farm Road, Sandwich, NH 03227.
DR. JOSIAH C. MCCRACKEN SR.
