John E. Ives' Obituary
John E. Ives passed away on November 29 at Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, in Gainesville, FL.
He was born in Hartford, Ct. in 1929. He earned his BA from Dartmouth College in 1951, served in Korea as a Lt. and returned to earn his MS from Yale University in Hospital Administration in 1956. He was the Assistant Director there for 10 years, CEO of Middlesex Memorial Hospital in CT and the CEO of the University of Connecticut Hospital for 10 years.
John moved to Gainesville in 1977 to become the CEO of Shands Hospital. He was instrumental in making Shands a private not-for profit hospital, which has allowed it to expand into its present status. Also, during this time he helped establish the Ronald McDonald House of North Central Florida. He served as Executive Vice President of St. Luke’s Hospital in Houston for 3 years, and then retired in 1994 after three years as President of Memorial Medical Hospital in Savannah, GA.
.
In his professional capacity, John served on many Professional Committees; Secretary of the Council of Teaching Hospitals, Commissioner on the Accrediting Commission on Education in Health Services, a Trustee of the University Hospital Consortium (President 1981-1983), a Member of the General Clinical Research Centers Committee of NIH and the Cancer Review Committee, Chairman and Trustee of the Florida Hospital Association, and Board Member, University Medical Center, Jacksonville.
Once retired he worked with Habitat for Humanity, but found his calling as a volunteer mediator in Alachua and Baker County and received an award for mediating 900 cases and more than 20years.
His passion and love for life did not end with healthcare administration. From a young age John was an avid golfer. He served as a Board Member of the Florida State Golf Association and was a longtime USGA Rules Official. He was a Board Member and Past President of the Gainesville Country Club, Past President of the Gator Golf Boosters, Patron of the Lady Gator Golf Boosters, Chairman and Director of the Nike and Buy.Com Florida Classics, and Past President of the Gainesville Sports Commission. He became devoted to junior golf when his grandsons started playing in 1996 and served as Tournament Chair of the Gainesville Junior Golf Tour. It was the most successful Junior Tournament series at the time in North Central Florida.
He was the Coach of the Oak Hall JV Golf Team and Girls Team. He was most proud of having the Boys High School Golf Classic Tournament named after him and his wife.
He enjoyed woodworking, playing golf, and officiating collegiate, high school and junior golf, and all spectator sports especially the UF Football and Basketball teams.
He is remembered by many, young and old alike, as a friend, mentor and leader.
He is survived by his wife Ann of 67 years, son and daughter-in-law Ralph and Kelly Ives and two grandsons Justin (Dara) and Christian (Megan) and his two great grandchildren, Hunter and Bailey. He had two daughters who succumbed to Cystic Fibrosis. Kathy age 4 and Linda age 22.
A gathering to celebrate John’s life will be held Wednesday, December 5, 2018, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with memories and remembrances to be shared starting at 6:00 p.m. at Gainesville Country Club, 7300 SW 35th Way, Gainesville, FL 32608. Burial will be private in West Hartford, at the family plot.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Ronald McDonald House of North Central Florida, https://www.rmhcncf.org/donate/secure-donation/.
What’s your fondest memory of John?
What’s a lesson you learned from John?
Share a story where John's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with John you’ll never forget.
How did John make you smile?