John Tyson

John Thaddeus Tyson, MD (1934-2023)

"There is a light that shines bright in every one of us. To see that light in others, you don't need glasses, just compassion." ― Charles F Glassman

Kindness, Generosity, Enthusiasm, Compassion, Love, Persistence, Strength and Resilience.  These are the words that best describe our father and friend, John Tyson, MD.  He was passionate about everything he did - from being a doctor, his life's calling and work, to being a Dad and an advocate for causes he believed in; causes such as advocating to care for the environment, having a fiscally responsible federal government, planned parenthood, and advocating for a new national anthem, Pete Seeger's, "This Land is Your Land."  His high school yearbooks and college reminiscences tell the tale of a fun loving prankster who was very social.  He was tall, dashing, and charismatic.  

He was born in 1934 in Trenton, NJ to Verna (Summerill) and Floyd Tyson and grew up in Wyncote, PA outside of Philadelphia.  He was raised Quaker.  Dad lived and passed on Quaker values throughout his life. His family attended Abington Friends Meeting, in Jenkintown, PA, and he attended Quaker schools for high school, Germantown Friends School and Swarthmore College. While in school he played football, wrestled and studied economics.  After college he followed in his sister's, Elizabeth Tyson Khuri, footsteps and attended medical school at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, where his father, Floyd Tyson, was a chemistry professor.  

Dad loved helping people and he was a practicing doctor until the age of 82.  He was a pediatrcian, a doctor in the US Air Force, and a public health doctor.  Initially, after completing an internship in Kentucky and Pediatric residency in Vermont, he began his career in the Indian Health Services where he was placed on the Hopi Nation in the early 1960's.  In this placement, he fell in love with the Southwest and never left.  He did locum tenens work on Native Nations in the Southwest throughout his career.  After his time in the Hopi Nation, he moved to Albuquerque and worked at Presbyterian Hospital and in private practice, initially with Dr. Syme, then his own private practices. He joined the United States Air Force for a short period and then pursued public health medicine working in methadone treatment clinics and other locum tenens in rural clinics throughout New Mexico. He had a deep respect for all people and saw the light in us all. He counseled all not to eat sugar, get exercise, and maintain a healthy diet. 

When Dad moved to Albuquerque in the mid 1960's he joined the Sandia Mountain Club and became a skier.  He looped in with an adventurous crowd and met our mom, Kären Pond.  They were married for seven years. In 1969  Kären and John had twins, Kersti (his "Sunshine") and Briget, (his, "Princess"). Two years later they adopted Jono (Dad's boy). John also kept tabs on his sister and her family, including his niece, Suzanne Khuri, and nephew Najib Nicolas Khuri.  Being a dad, an uncle, and friend was always a priority and he stayed involved in our lives through and through.  

John Tyson, died at home on March 30, 2023 in Taos NM.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Elizabeth Khuri, his brother-in-law Nicola Najib Khuri, his first wife, Kären Pond, his second wife Tina Allen, and his loving partner Peggi Anderson Randolph with whom he adventured and traveled with for over 15 years.  He is survived by his children, Kersti Tyson, Briget Eastep and Jono Tyson, their partners Mathew Sexton, Eric Eastep and Cristen Irvin Tyson; his grandchildren Mateo Sexton, Elizabeth and Dawson Eastep, Lily and Bryce Tyson, his niece Suzanne Khuri and her family, Vijay and Nicholas Seshadri, his nephew Najib Khuri and his family, Claire Landis and Grace and Gloria Khuri, Peggi Randolph's daughter, Jill Randolph-Sikking and her family Marcel, and Saskia, and dear friends.

Arrangements by Rivera Family Funeral Home. To share a memory, please visit our website at www.riverafuneralhome.com