John Osmond, MD
June 26, 1942 - September 20, 2024

John D. Osmond III, MD, of Osterville, MA, and Tequesta, FL, passed away on September 20, 2024 in Oyster Harbors, MA, at home peacefully with his loving wife, Ellyn, and two daughters by his side holding his hands. John was born on June 26, 1942, in Louisville, KY and was raised in Cleveland, OH.  

John graduated from Denison University in 1964 and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 1968.  He served one year of his medical internship at the University of Southern California/LACUSC Medical Center before finishing his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston.

John first learned to sail in the waters of the North Channel off Manitoulin Island in Ontario, Canada, at Camp Adanac (Canada spelled backwards).  Seeking a deeper level of knowledge, he attended Culver Summer Naval School on Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, IN.  He further honed his skills on the waters of Massachusetts during his residency in Boston. Upon completing his residency, John sailed into Hyannis Harbor on his Swan-36 for an interview at Cape Cod Radiology and “never left.”  It was then that he fell in love with the beauty and waters of Cape Cod where he could pursue his love of sailing. John began his life-long career as a physician at Cape Cod Radiology until his retirement in 2019.  John was a beloved member of the Cape Cod Hospital staff, serving as Chief of Staff from 1988 to 1990. 

John first participated in the Hyannis to Nantucket Figawi Race in the race’s second year in 1974.  From then on, he raced in the annual Memorial Day event for 45 years, spending magical weekends with many friends enjoying a time of sailing camaraderie on Nantucket Island. In addition to participating in the event, John was involved in the yearly organization and production of the Figawi Race and served on the Figawi Board of Governors for 50 years. He was instrumental in designing the original Figawi emblem.

John was a passionate ocean racing sailor and served the sport of sailing in a variety of important roles. He served on the race committee and as a national judge at multiple regattas and venues worldwide.  John served on the Board of Trustees of the Hyannis Yacht Club and the New York Yacht Club. He was Chairman of the Offshore Committee of the United States Sailing Association and the Deputy Chairman of the International Offshore Racing Council at ISAF (now World Sailing).  John was past commodore of the Storm Trysail Club and twice served as chairman of the club’s popular biennial Block Island Race Week. In 2012, he was the Chairman of the Newport to Bermuda Race and Principal Race Officer for the next ten years as a member of the Cruising Club of America. 

John competed in countless offshore races. From 1980 to 1990, he raced his C&C-40 THORFINN. Beginning in 1990, he successfully campaigned with partners Perry Harris and Robert Morton on their Frers-45 BRIGADOON VI.  John competed in 15 Newport to Bermuda Races. He was a regular crew member aboard Bill Koch’s MATADOR and MATADOR² (1984-1993). A highlight of the MATADOR campaign was winning the Maxi Yacht World Championship in 1990. Veteran America’s Cup sailor Gary Jobson fondly recalls, "racing with John many times during the “MATADOR” years. He was a member of the after guard and often trimmed the mainsail on the 80-foot racing yacht. John was a little older than most of the crew and was a seasoned veteran who had a steadying influence. Any time the competition became intense, John was always on hand to calm tensions and keep everyone focused on their task. I remember John to be thoughtful and always friendly with everyone around the waterfront.  If you needed some wise council on any issue in the sport of sailing, John was always available and helpful.”

John and his wife Ellyn traveled the world for their sailing adventures, visiting North and South America, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. New York Yacht Club Vice-Commodore Clare Harrington worked closely with John for many years. Clare remembers, “John was a gentleman in every sense of the word. Having spent countless hours with him on Race Committee assignments, the NYYC cruise, organizing the Newport to Bermuda Race. John was a thoughtful, kind, engaging and loyal friend. He was highly skilled, and his opinions carried great weight.”

Jay Gowell, the Commodore of the Cruising Club of America, notes, “John has been a wonderful sage advisor to the (Bermuda) race, and supportive of the changes we have made when others were a bit stubborn. He also has been a calming influence on louder, emotional voices.”

Fred Deichmann, the Chair of the 2014 Newport to Bermuda Race, adds, “John was unflappable in a crisis, steady at all times and exhibited a great sense of humor at the idiosyncrasies of sailors and crew. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and worked with him.” Another past chairman, and crew mate, A.J Evan’s, says John was special, “He was a diplomat in managing the many characters who touched the Bermuda Race.”

John also was an avid golfer. He not only enjoyed golf itself, but also the social camaraderie that came with being a member of both the Oyster Harbors Club in Osterville, MA, and the Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, FL.  At his home in Jupiter Hills, he was either out playing the game, enjoying the fantastic view of the 14th hole on the Village Course from his back patio watching his friends playing through, or sprucing up the yard with his beloved leaf blower. 

John is survived by his wife Ellyn Coyle Osmond, and two daughters, Courtenay Anne Cruger of Osterville, MA, and Jupiter, FL, and Vanessa Cruger White of Knoxville, TN. He is also survived by his two much adored granddaughters, Saige Cruger White and Paisley Clark White, who loved their Bappa. John proudly adorned his car with the license plate “BAPPA.”

John is also survived by his sister, Jean Schneider Montgomery and her husband Bob of South Bend, IN, (Katherine and Anne) and brothers Charles Osmond of Cincinnati, OH, (David, Sarah and Christina) and Mark and his wife Christie Osmond of Winnetka, IL (Jeffery, Megan and Alex) and many grandnieces and grandnephews including his recently born grandnephew, Johnny Osmond. He is predeceased by his parents John D. Osmond, Jr., MD, and Jean Lindstrom Osmond of Cleveland, OH, and brother-in-law Tom Schneider.

A mass will be held on Wednesday, October 2, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Osterville, and a celebration of life will follow immediately afterward at The Oyster Harbors Club. Interment will be private at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s name may be made to the Scholarship Funds at either Oyster Harbors Club, 2067 Oyster Harbors, Osterville, MA 02655; or The Beach Club, 27 Long Beach Road, Centerville, MA 02632-0297.