LeRoy Lincoln Eldredge Jr

Roy Eldredge, MD, Compassionate Pediatrician, 97

Kind-hearted pediatrician and long-time Hingham resident Roy Eldredge died peacefully on October 5th surrounded by his family.

LeRoy “Roy” Lincoln Eldredge, Jr., MD, practiced pediatrics in Hingham for 39 years. Roy married Elizabeth Suzanne “Susie” Belding on May 20, 1944. He began his practice in 1951 at 215 Main Street in the same house where Susie had been born and raised. He moved his office in the 1970s to 13 Leavitt Street.

Family, friends, and patients remember him as a compassionate professional who made a special effort to ensure that children received the care they needed. He made house calls, often in the middle of the night, to those who needed him and left medications on the doorsteps of patients to save their parents a trip to the pharmacy. 

His knowledge of current scientific protocols saved the lives of some of his young patients. When asked about how he approached his practice, he often said that, if you help the parents calm down, you are helping the children to heal. He was known for the care he gave to the young mothers and fathers as well as to their children.  

The family enjoyed their times at their cabin in Vermont where Roy spent time with his children skiing, hiking, and going for scenic walks. He was an avid reader and enjoyed debating the issues of the day at the dinner table with his children. Ever the intellectual, Roy was always ready to engage with new ideas.

He and Susie shared many common interests such as travel, classical music, art, antique furniture, and genealogy. Many Hingham residents attended their annual Fourth of July party on the parade route.

Early Years

LeRoy Lincoln Eldredge, Jr. was born on March 17, 1920 in Middleboro, MA. He and his brother David grew up with their parents LeRoy L. Eldredge, Sr. and Catherine Johnston Eldredge in Wareham, MA. Roy had a close relationship with his paternal grandparents Josiah and Sarah (Morgan) Eldredge and his paternal Aunt Elthea E. Atwood and her husband Ellis of Carver, MA He graduated from Wareham High School.

He graduated with honors in English Literature from Dartmouth College and graduated from Tufts Medical School. He completed his medical residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital. At the Old Ship (First Parish, Unitarian) Church he married Elizabeth Suzanne “Susie” Belding on May 20, 1944 while he was a Lieutenant in the US Navy. After the war ended, they were posted to London at the U.S. Embassy for a year that proved to be life changing. The English friends they made during that time remained close throughout their lifetime and into succeeding generations. 

He served as an Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Eldredge advocated for public health measures in the public schools in his role as the school physician. Roy attended grand rounds at Massachusetts General Hospital during his career and even after retirement with his pediatrician friend Bob Sceery, MD.

Dr. Eldredge is survived by his son LeRoy Lincoln “Linc” Eldredge III and his wife Susan of Dallas; David Lawrence Belding Eldredge and his wife Mary of Brentwood, NH; Jonathan DeForest Eldredge of Albuquerque, NM; Nathaniel Pratt Eldredge and his wife Laurie of Carver; and, Elizabeth Atwood Eldredge and her husband George of Hingham. He is survived by 16 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

The grandchildren include: Rebecca Eldredge; Emily Eldredge; Benjamin Eldredge; David C. Eldredge; Cathy Mitchell-Hardt; Harriet Eldredge-Hindy; Mason Eldredge; Nicolas-Etienne Prindeville Eldredge; Gabriela Eldredge; Stephen Eldredge; Abigail Eldredge; Robert Eldredge; Josiah Alexakos; Elizabeth Alexakos; and Katherine Alexakos. The great-grandchildren are: Olivia Eldredge, Hunter Mitchel- Hart, Wyatt Mitchell-Hart and Nathaniel Hindy.

The family will host a memorial service on Saturday October 21, 2017 at 11:00am at the Old Ship Church. The family asks that in place of flowers that donations be made to the Old Ship Church, the Hingham Historical Society, or the Trustees of Reservations, specifically World’s End or a charity of their choice

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