Dr. John Dundee 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.