Dr. John Dundee Payne

dr. john  payne
Dr. John Dundee Payne (January 16, 1946 – November 6, 2021) is many things. A faithful, generous, and loving husband, a magnificent father, a world-class psychiatrist. A captain of ships; a grower of trees; a designer of towers and light sculptures. John was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised by his parents, John Joseph Payne, and Helen Barbara Dundee, along with his elder sister, Dorothy. John attended Lane Tech High School, and went on to Northwestern University, where he double majored in English and Chemistry. He then attended Northwestern Medical School, where he met and married the love of his life, Dr. Lillian Marlene Jones.



During the Vietnam War, John and his new bride moved to Washington, D.C., where he served at St. Elizabeth’s mental hospital, following which he completed his residency in psychiatry at Georgetown University Hospital. After his training, he set up a private psychiatry practice. Over the following 42 years, he treated his patients with an unparalleled standard of care, combining his unique, deep well of compassion with cutting edge medical knowledge in pharmacology, nutraceuticals, genetics, psychotherapy, and other therapeutic techniques. Thousands of lives were immeasurably improved through his goodness, brilliance, and dedication; his gentleness and strength; his warmth and light. People went to him for healing, and he gave it to them – for what John Payne found broken, he helped to make whole.



His private life was as exemplary as his public. He and his wife, Marlene, raised three children, Jennifer, J.D. & Heather, and six dogs. He led his family on many adventures around the world, to five continents. He instilled in them the value of education, creativity, hard work, integrity, and family togetherness. Most weekends, he took them to the place he was happiest, a quiet family estate on the Yeocomico River. There, he guided them in tending orchards and gardens. A scientist, fascinated with the workings of nature, with ecology, with the solar system and universe, he loved the growing things of the earth. He filled their lives with hikes and campfires; fireworks and steaks; museums and boats – and captained his family through many a storm.



Now, finally, the sea is calm. He died the night of Saturday, November 6, with his wife, all his children and their spouses surrounding him. It was peaceful, gentle, and dignified, and from what we could tell, he was not in any pain. His posterity includes seven grandchildren – Ella, Sophia, Jack, Adam, Ethan, William, and Charlotte – with a few more on the way. His name was dear to many on earth – and now it is celebrated among his fathers, mothers, and angels, in the uncharted lands of the sun, the moon and the stars. Travel on, and be blessed, until that day when we all shall meet again.



Anyone wishing to honor his memory may make a donation in his name to the National Parks Foundation at: https://www.nationalparks.org/support.

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Guestbook

  1. My son Will and I have such warm memories of Dr. Payne. His caring kindness and gentleness helping people heal stay with us forever. Our deepest condolence to all his family and friends. Cathy Wright & Will Hemsley.

    • Thank you, Cathy. I very much appreciate your posting that. It’s wonderful to hear from the people his life impacted. — JD Payne

  2. I grew up in the same neighborhood with the Payne family. My brother and I used to cut their grass weekly and feed their dogs when they went on vacation. I was sorry to hear about Dr. Payne’s passing. As soon as I heard the news, I remembered a story about him and a special connection that we shared during a huge snowstorm in 1983. Home from school and procrastinating about hours of shoveling our long driveway, Dr. Payne knocked on our door and asked if I wanted to go on a driving adventure around the neighborhood. He had a new Dodge 4×4 SUV and we had recently acquired a 1977 Jeep CJ5. I was a new driver and felt reluctant to ask my parents for permission to drive in 12+ inches of snow. There was no way they were going to let me risk my life in such bad weather without any experience driving in snow. To my surprise, Dr. Payne convinced them to let me go! I am glad he did! We had a great time and fortunately neither one of us got stuck…for long. Rest In Peace, Dr. Payne. I will always think of you when it snows in DC! Thank you for our snowy adventure.

  3. I just found out about this man He was imortalized in an obituary for the final espisode of season one of the rings of pawer awesome to read about this man and wish you all the best

  4. I just found out about thais man and his wonderful life I am glad he was in the world. I literaly just found out about him through the new Amazon prime series Rings of Power where he was imortalised with a dedication in the cradits to sseason 1 episode 8.

    • What a pleasure to read about a truly wonderful human being. I also just watched the season finale and saw his name. I am sorry for your family’s tremendous loss. What a pleasure he must have been to be around and share experiences and adventures with. Take care one and all.

  5. Like some others here, I learned of your dad and husband through the dedication at the end of THE RINGS OF POWER. Tolkien’s blessing, to find himself in the far green country, under a swift sky, started the tears and reading your remembrance kept them coming. Dr. Payne sounds like a wonderful person, full of love, light, and adventure. I bet he’s proud as can be at your imagination and empathy in your storytelling. Blessings on your family.


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