John Milton McIntyre, a retired orthopedic surgeon whose operations allowed patients to regain the use of their hands, died Tuesday of pancreatic cancer at his home in the northern section of Roland Park. He was 67.
He was born in Cumberland and raised in Westernport, where his father was owner and general manager of the McIntyre Bakery. He spent his summers on Deep Creek Lake, where his family had a cottage.
After graduating as valedictorian of Bruce High School in 1960, he earned a degree in chemistry at the University of Maryland, College Park. He received his medical degree with honors from the University of Maryland's School of Medicine.
His son, Dr. Thomas P. McIntyre of Brooklyn, N.Y., said his father spent three months as a patient in Children's Hospital after he suffered a hip injury in a ball game as he slid into a base.
"After that incident, he changed his focus and became a more serious student," his son said. "And, in fact, he returned to that hospital years later as its chief of surgery."
Dr. McIntyre continued his medical training at the University of Colorado, and in 1969 joined the Navy. He trained in Pensacola, Fla., and served two years in Memphis, Tenn., at the Millington Naval Air Station as a lieutenant commander.
He then trained in orthopedic surgery and completed a hand surgery fellowship at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. He received additional training at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry, England.
In 1976, Dr. McIntyre returned to Baltimore and established an orthopedic practice. He operated in numerous area hospitals, including the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Union Memorial Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital and Children's Hospital. At Children's, he was chief of surgery for a number of years.
He was a general orthopedic surgeon and treated patients with injuries to the joints, including hips, knees, elbows and shoulders. He had offices on Cold Spring Lane, at Children's Hospital and at GBMC, where he once had a sports medicine center.
"He was a rugged individualist who stood steadfast in his opinions on cases," said E. Ford Wilgis, a fellow surgeon who lives in Baltimore. "He was the lead surgeon on several cases involving extensive severe arm injuries."
In 1977, Laird Wise, a Trappe portrait painter and photographer, was severely injured when he was thrown from a riding mower on his farm. The machine turned over and both his hands became tangled in the whirling blade, a Baltimore Sun article reported at the time. His left arm was broken in five places and the top of that hand was cut off. His right hand was severed diagonally across the middle of the palm.
He was flown to Union Memorial Hospital's Curtis Hand Center, where Dr. McIntyre and others operated from 9:30 p.m. to 5:30 the next morning. Dr. McIntyre reattached the hand and, among other procedures, transplanted a nerve from his thigh into the palm of his hand. He inserted tendons from his right toe into his left fingers.
News accounts detailed the artist's recovery and how 50 members of the Trappe Elks Club took turns transporting Mr. Wise to follow-up appointments with Dr. McIntyre and physical therapists. The artist later resumed painting.
Dr. McIntyre also operated on a Western Maryland girl whose hand was injured by a wolf and on a coal miner whose hand was crushed in an industrial accident.
"He spent a lot of time with his patients and they adored him," said his wife, the former Nancy C. Whitworth.
Dr. McIntyre taught at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and was a Gilman School board member.
He retired from medicine in 1999 and then worked with two of his sons in their businesses.
He had a summer home in Sherwood Forest and enjoyed discussing politics and playing handball. He also built furniture and traveled extensively.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 16 at Friends School, 5114 N. Charles St.
In addition to his son and his wife of 43 years, survivors include three other sons: John W. McIntyre of Chicago, Philip G. McIntyre of Greenwich, Conn., and James H. McIntyre of New York City; two sisters, Peggy Bowman of Greenwood, S.C., and Sue Robertson of Alexandria, Va.; his mother, Pat McIntyre of Williamsport; and five grandchildren.