John Tolbert with Nita Worthington's mare, Valerie, undated. Courtesy of Janet Howard.Born: May 6, 1924
Died: September 13, 2011
Married: Dorothy Marie Sawyer Tolbert
Children: Janet Howard
John Patrick Tolbert was a Cavalry soldier in the US Army during World War II seeing action throughout the Pacific Theater. He was in the first graduating class of Paul Smith's College.
From John's daughter, Janet Howard, in 2020
In these photos my dad, John Tolbert, is riding Nita Worthington’s mare Valerie. He was friends with both Ed and Nita as a young man and had such fond memories of them. Dad served with the US Army 1st Cavalry in the South Pacific during WWII. As an avid horseman, the cavalry was the only choice for dad. Your letter from the porch inspired me to send these to you. Dad was a SL native who would have had some amazing stories to add to the oral history. He died in 2011.
From Mary Hotaling, January 18, 2022
We moved to Saranac Lake in 1977. I remember seeing Mr. Tolbert driving his horse and light, open carriage along Park Avenue near Circle Street early in our stay there. Some time later, I met him and he described where horses were kept in his youth, in low lying fields near the river where later the Grand Union/Tops grocery store would be built. He drew a map for Historic Saranac Lake showing the layout there at the time. He owned the Whitman Cottage on Woodruff Street where his horse was stabled.
John Tolbert riding Nita Worthington's mare, Valerie, undated. Courtesy of Janet Howard. Adirondack Daily Enterprise, September 15, 2011
John P. Tolbert
SARANAC LAKE - John Patrick Tolbert, 87, a lifelong resident of Saranac Lake passed into eternal rest on Sept. 13, 2011 at C.V.P.H Medical Center in Plattsburgh.
Born May 6, 1924 in Saranac Lake, John was the son of Chester and Elizabeth (Coulon) Tolbert. His boyhood was filled with many beloved pets and adventures in the great outdoors. He spent his summers at the fire tower on Ampersand Mountain where his father was the fire observer.
A graduate of St. Bernard's School and Saranac Lake High School, John was a Cavalry soldier in the United States Army during World War II seeing action throughout the Pacific Theater. After his honorable discharge from the army, John was in the first graduating class of Paul Smith's College. He then went on to earn his bachelor's and master's degree in bacteriology from Syracuse University.
Throughout his career as a Clinical Laboratory Director, John worked at the Saranac Lake General Hospital, Lake Placid Hospital, Elizabethtown Community Hospital and the Keene Valley Hospital. An avid horseman and hunter as well as a talented musician, John will be remembered by all who knew him for his quick wit, his story telling genius, and above all for his abiding kindness.
Special thanks to the staff at CVPH for the compassion and care they provided to John and his family in his final days.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Janet and Brian Howard of Brunswick; his granddaughter Kate Siobhan Howard of Brooklyn; his grandson Corporal Eamon Conor Howard of Fort Lewis, Wash.; his granddaughter Anne Elizabeth Howard of Brunswick; his nephew and niece Hugh and Marie Law of Saranac Lake; his longtime companion Eleanor Gauthier of Saranac Lake; as well as many dear nieces, nephews, cousins and brother and sister-in-laws.
John was predeceased by beloved wife Dorothy Marie Sawyer Tolbert.
Calling hours will take place from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16 at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 at St. Bernard's Church. Burial will follow at St. Bernard's Cemetery in Saranac Lake.
Friends wishing to remember John Patrick Tolbert may make memorial contributions to Tri-Lakes Humane Society in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.
