Dr. Clarence John Myatt, known to all as Ben, passed away peacefully on November 4, 2023, in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. He was a dedicated dentist, a proud Air Force veteran, and an accomplished athlete. Ben's journey through life was marked by resilience, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to family and community.
Born on June 16, 1935, Ben was the son of Clarence Benson (CB) Myatt and Margaret (Marge) Doyle Myatt. His siblings include his late brother, Paul Myatt, of Orange, CT. He is survived by his loving sister, Anne Myatt Tetreault, and her husband Tom Tetreault, of Hanover, NH; and his brother Steve Myatt, of San Diego, CA; both of whom shared a special bond of siblinghood that lasted throughout their lives.
Ben was married to his beloved wife, Katherine "Kathy" Salter Myatt, for 59 years. Together, they raised a loving family, including their children, Chris Myatt, and his wife Sarah Hatcher, their children Elena Myatt and Annalise Myatt, all of Boulder, CO; and Janine Myatt, of Bristol VA and her son, Benson Hazelwood, of Memphis, TN.
Ben grew up in Belmont, MA, and Quincy, MA. He graduated from Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, MA, in 1953. He then attended Saint Michael's College in Winooski, VT, and graduated in 1957. He graduated from the University of Maryland Dental School in 1961 followed by a year's residency in oral surgery at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Ben and Kathy raised their family in Bridgewater, MA, and in their later years split their time between a summer house at Harbor Beach, Mattapoisett, MA and The Villages, FL.
Ben was an accomplished athlete. He was an exceptional hockey player and even played semi-pro hockey while attending dental school. His talent and determination on the ice inspired many and left an enduring legacy. He was also passionate about golf and tennis, which he could play well into his '80s. He took up sailing in his 30s, and became a lifelong sailor. He was particularly attached to his 25' sailboat, the Never Again, often seen with a passel of kids from the neighborhood dangling their feet over the gunwale as he buried the bow into the waves.
Ben's passion for service led him to be a dentist in the United States Air Force, where he proudly served his country at the Lajes Air Force Base on Terceira Island, the Azores. His advanced training in oral surgery helped him in his service in the Azores. His dedication to duty and his commitment to his fellow servicemen and servicewomen left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him.
After his service in the Air Force, Ben practiced dentistry for 37 years in the town of North Easton, MA. In particular, he was proud to serve the patients in the region with Down syndrome. His dedication to his patients was legendary, once even taking care of a late-night emergency while still dressed in his hockey gear.
In his last months and days, Ben was given wonderful care by Regan's Creative Homecare in Fairhaven, MA. Hospice care by Southcoast Visiting Nurses Association was also exceptional.
A Funeral Mass to honor Ben will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 12:30 pm at St Anthony's Catholic church in Mattapoisett. Visiting hours will be on Saturday morning prior to his Mass from 10 am-noon at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals in Mattapoisett, and a celebration of life will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis TN www.stjude.org, a cause that was dear to Ben's heart. He will be interred at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA.
Ben's memory will forever live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched. May he rest in eternal peace.