Dr. John S. Wolkowicz, 86, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, succumbed peacefully after a period of declining health on Thursday April 12, 2018 surrounded by family at Sippican Healthcare Center. Born in New Bedford, he was the husband of Hertha (Lederbogen) Wolkowicz and the son of the late Jan and Teresa (Adamczyk) Wolkowicz.
Dr. Wolkowicz graduated from New Bedford High School, Alliance College, and Tufts School of Dental Medicine and attended the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. He completed his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Tufts School of Dental Medicine. He served as Captain in the United States Air Force. Following his honorable service in the Armed Services, he traveled to Washington D.C. working at an Oral Surgery dental clinic. Upon returning to New Bedford, he established an Oral Surgery practice in his hometown.
Dr. Wolkowicz was a long-term staff member at St. Luke’s Hospital and the former Parkwood Hospital. He taught at the Oral Surgery Department at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine for over thirty years, where he served as a model and mentor to several generations of Tufts dental students. Dr. Wolkowicz was a past president of the Tufts University School of Dentistry Alumni Association and was the past president of the New Bedford Dental Society. Upon retirement, Hertha and John traveled extensively throughout the world, then divided their time between New Bedford, Boston, Naples FL and Fairhaven.
A selfless and incredibly generous man, Dr. Wolkowicz was a dedicated philanthropist for his hometown New Bedford, supporting numerous organizations and institutions including the Buttonwood Park Zoo, the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and his local church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help. He was instrumental in the revival of the Buttonwood Park Zoo, and was an active board member and champion for the zoo’s support and continued success throughout his remaining years. Dr. Wolkowicz also established a scholarship to support students attending the Tufts School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Wolkowicz is survived by his wife of 53 years, Hertha, son Dr. Christopher Wolkowicz (Terry) and their children Aria and Justin, son Dr. Derek Wolkowicz (Candace) and their children Brooke and Drew, two nieces and one nephew, and countless friends and colleagues. John’s grandchildren were the light of his life. In addition to his parents, Dr. Wolkowicz was predeceased by his sister Helena Bodzioch.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Parish Family of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in New Bedford on Saturday April 14, 2018 at 10 AM. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held on Friday April 13, 2018 from 4-7 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Friends and colleagues are kindly invited. In lieu of flowers and in recognition of his love for the zoo, memorials may be made to the Buttonwood Park Zoological Society 425 Hawthorn Street New Bedford, MA 02740, should friends desire. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.