In Memory of Guy Hartley Wilcox, MD

Obituary

Guy Hartley Wilcox, MD passed away peacefully on June 27th, 2024.

Guy was born on August 3rd, 1941 in Utica, NY. He lived a full and rich life, one engaged in farming, intellectual and spiritual devotion, and a long and storied career in medicine. He was a man dedicated to family, to ideas, to curiosity, and to the pursuit of excellence. He moved through the world with a spirit of wonder, and in a way that demonstrated a profound sense of care, honor, and love. To say that he will be missed beyond measure by his family and friends would barely scratch the surface of what he means to us.

Guy loved being a physician. His dedication to the healing arts began when he was a student at the Louisville Theological Seminary, during which time he worked as a hospital chaplain. He graduated with a Masters in Theology before going on to graduate with his Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1973, then completing residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Infectious Disease. He practiced primarily in Utica, working at various times in private practice, at the Sitrin Health Care Center, as the Medical Director of St. Luke’s, as faculty in the St. Elizabeth’s Family Medicine Residency, and he ended his career caring for patients as the Medical Director at the Masonic Care Community. He was also a founding board member of Hospice & Palliative Care of New Hartford.

From the time of his diagnosis in 2008, Guy navigated the profound challenges of Parkinson’s Disease with grace, strength, and intellectual rigor. We are indebted to Dr. Dorsey, Guy’s neurologist at the University of Rochester, who cared for him in a partnership of mutual respect and admiration. Guy wrote passionately about his experience with Parkinson’s in his memoirs. He also wrote reflectively and honestly about his life growing up on a farm.

Guy met his wife, Mary Mizzi Wilcox, in 1978. They built a house on Mallory Road overlooking his family’s dairy farm. Guy and Mary also built a life together, raising three adored children, and enjoying, above all, traveling the world together after Guy’s retirement. In falling in love with Mary, Guy brought magic into his life. Mary was a steadfast, creative, nurturing partner who inspired Guy immeasurably, and who was unfailing in her devotion to him as his Parkinson’s progressed.

Guy is survived by Mary and their three children Allen, Allison, and Andrew Wilcox, as well his children-in-law, Olga Karmansky Wilcox, Will Connell, and Elizabeth Stahlmann, and his grandchildren Fiona Rose Wilcox and Vivienne Rose Connell. He is also survived by his siblings Gary Wilcox, Beverly Batdorf, and Gregg Wilcox, and their families, including Gary’s wife Julie, Beverly’s husband Kirby, and Gregg’s wife Jo, as well as nieces and nephews Steven, Craig, Phillip, and Joel Gordon, Seth Batdorf, Katelyn Foltz, Emily Krape, Paula Shaffer, and David Badtorf. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Janet Mizzi, his sister-in-law Janet Thomas, and her sons John and Dan Hinman.

Guy was predeceased by his parents, Bill and Florence Wilcox, his sister Barbara Gordon, and his dear Aunt Betty.

Our most heartfelt thanks goes out to Guy’s caregivers, including Lily, Georgia, Tianna, Ashley, Stephanie, and Wally, as well as the staff at Siegenthaler Center, particularly Laurie, Sarah, and Crystal, who cared for Guy in his final days with profound tenderness. We will always be grateful.

The funeral will be on Monday, July 8th at 11AM in the Thompkins Chapel at the Masonic Care Community in Utica. The family will receive friends following the service in lieu of calling hours and a reception will be held at the family’s barn on Sessions Road following the service.

In Guy’s memory, please consider donations to the Siegenthaler Center or the Masonic Care Community.

“He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest.”

- W H Auden

Online messages of sympathy may be left at: www.fwefh.com

Arrangements are in the care of Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral and Cremation Services, New Hartford