Dr. David “Bev” Longson, 85, of Provincetown, MA, formerly of Jamaica Plain, MA, died Wednesday morning, September the 12th, at his home, in the loving arms of his husband of 39 years, Jim Gizzonio, following a very long and courageous battle with prostate cancer.
David was born on February the 22nd, 1933, in the tiny Welsh town of Ystradgynlais, the only son of the late David George and Nancy (Taylor) Longson. At the tender age of 17 David set out from his small town in Wales to begin his life’s journey, which began with his medical training in London, where he received his medical degrees (MB,BS) from the University of London, St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in 1957, and then on to his specialty degree in Anaesthetics in 1960. In addition, David earned two further distinguished honors; Member of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) and Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians (LRCP). Before emigrating from the UK to the US in 1964, David served in Her Majesty’s Royal Navy as a Surgeon Lieutenant.
Upon arriving in this country, and after completing his residency at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, David continued to practice anesthesiology at the Lahey Clinic, located in Boston at that time, and then, with three other physicians, went on to found the acclaimed Anesthesia Associates of Massachusetts, a private medical practice that serviced many clinics and hospitals in the Boston area, including the New England Deaconess Hospital, the Faulkner Hospital and the New England Baptist Hospital.
But sadly, David’s career as an anesthesiologist was cut short in July of 1989, when a serious health issue rendered him unable to give anesthesia and forced him into an early retirement. Though he greatly missed working at his profession, he especially missed the people he worked with, his wonderful hospital colleagues. “Oh for those happy days in the OR”, he would later lament. But David never lost hope. Indeed, he now had lots of time to pursue his many interests and passions. When he wasn’t avidly tending the garden, or cooking up some absolutely fabulous meal in the kitchen, or earnestly studying his Italian, he had his nose buried in a book, always. And, to his Italian husband’s chagrin, David had a far better grasp of the Italian language than Jim ever had. And, lastly, his love of travel frequently brought him back to his beloved London, as well as to Italy and the Caribbean.
Unfortunately, David’s plethora of physical ailments, specifically his degenerative osteoarthritis, slowly eroded his infectious joie de vivre. However, he was incredibly stoical throughout his life, and continued to be so, even during his final days, enduring much discomfort from his disability and from his cancer. But he never lost his signature British charm and rapier wit, playfully stabbing at you and then flashing his beautifully broad smile oh so sweetly. He was truly an extraordinary man with a sharp mind and a strong spirit, both of which helped him in the end to simply Keep Calm and Carry On.
In addition to his devoted husband, David is survived by his stepdaughter, Mia (Gizzonio) Carnevale and her husband Michael of Greensboro, NC, and his step-granddaughter, Sophia. He was predeceased by his stepson, Toby Gizzonio.
David is also survived by his son, Simon Longson and his daughter in-law Sandy (Chang) Longson of Newbury Park, CA., and three daughters, Sarah Longson of Baltimore, MD, Jane (Longson) Greene and his son in-law Adam of Founex, Switzerland, and Dinah (Longson) Baken and his son in-law Glenn of Chappaqua, NY., as well as seven grandchildren, Christopher and Molly Blondell, Gillian and Owen Greene, and Jonathan, Chelsea and Thomas Baken. Lastly, he leaves his beloved cousin, Honor (Taylor) Parkin and her husband Phillip of the UK, and their families.
A Celebration of David’s life is being planned for November at a time and date to be announced.
If desired, memorial donations in David’s honor may be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, 1250 Fourth Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 [www.prostatecancerfoundation.org] or the VNA of Cape Cod-Hospice, 434 Route 134, Suite D3, South Dennis, MA 02660.