Dr.
Christopher M. Terrien Jr. (“Doc” or “Butch”) passed away
peacefully on February 3, 2025, at his home in South Hamilton, Mass.,
surrounded by his family. Born on November 2, 1941, in Burlington,
Vt., he was the eldest son of Nora Finnegan and Dr. Christopher M.
Terrien Sr. A proud lifelong Vermonter, Chris relocated to
Massachusetts two years ago to be closer to his children.
Chris
attended Cathedral High School before graduating from Rice Memorial
High School in 1959. He played football for Rice Memorial and skied
competitively for the Mount Mansfield Ski Club. He hitchhiked to and
from Stowe with his best friends, hiked the trails, and loved to ski
fast — especially slalom. He met Patricia (“Patti”) Donahue
skiing in 1961 and fell in love. He went on to ski for the University
of Vermont. His dreams of trying out for the U.S. team were curtailed
by a knee injury. Never one to back down from a challenge, he skied
that season on one leg, buckled down with his studies and graduated
“on fumes” in 1963, the same year he married Patricia Donahue.
He
went on to study medicine at the UVM College of Medicine and
graduated in 1967. He completed his residency in internal medicine at
Georgetown University and UVM, where he subspecialized in cardiology,
following in his father’s footsteps. He then served in the U.S. Air
Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, as part of
the Berry Plan. He proudly took care of and learned from hundreds of
returning prisoners of war. It was during his time in the service
that he developed an ability to efficiently care for a high volume of
patients.
Upon
returning to Vermont, he built a thriving cardiology practice at 235
Pearl Street in Burlington, working alongside his father until his
father’s retirement. He remained busy in the office as well as the
cath lab for more than four decades. It was not uncommon for him to
evaluate and treat 30 to 60 patients a day. Despite the tempo, he
took the time to know each patient’s story, who they were, what
they did and what mattered to them. He always made time to cheer up a
patient with one of his jokes (delivered with acumen for knowing his
audience), which numbered in the hundreds.
Chris
was a doctor’s doctor. The child of a doctor, a brother to doctors,
a father to doctors and a doctor himself. Medicine to Chris was a
life calling, not a job, and he continued to practice after
retirement, maintaining his Vermont medical license until late in
2024. He always answered his phone and worked with a steady hand and
intrepid temperament. The same stamina and resolve that got him
through many long nights in the cath lab would be called upon later
to battle his most formidable obstacle challenging his health late in
life.
Just
as he liked to work hard, he liked to play hard. Friday afternoons
were often reserved for time on the lake. With his signature Finnegan
twinkle in his eye and Peterson pipe in hand, he was always up for
mischievous adventure, a practical joke, or a cold Budweiser with
friends and family. As he aged, he hung up his skis and built up a
woodshop, where he created many beautiful pieces now adorning his
children’s homes. He rediscovered his love of golf, spending many
winters at Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where he
connected with the islanders just as he had with his patients. You
could often find Chris by following the laughter. With retirement in
sight, he approached the next phase with the same gusto as he always
had and found a lovely community of friends at John’s Island Club
in Vero Beach, Fla. Here, he became a passionate member of the
Muchachos golf group on Saturdays, introducing his signature
one-handed putt to his teammates and friends.
Chris’
final mile was especially challenging. His loyal wife, Patti,
alongside his family, worked very hard to keep him home with family.
His days were filled with laughter and memories, amid a steady
background of Irish music. We would like to thank Drs. Frank
McDermott and Greg Abel, who worked tirelessly to care for Chris
during his final days, providing him with the same level of
commitment with which he served the Champlain Valley for more than 45
years.
Chris
is survived by his loving wife, Patti; daughters, Courtney (Mark
Kagan) and Dr. Paige (Erik Church); son, Dr. Christopher, or “Tig”
(Katie O’Brien); and his cherished grandchildren, Alexandra Kagan,
Caroline Kagan, Christopher Kagan, William Terrien, Eleanor Terrien
and Elizabeth (Izzy) Church. He is also survived by his beloved
siblings Pamela Garbelotti, Dr. Timothy Terrien, Thomas Terrien,
Margaret Terrien and Dr. Edward Terrien, as well as their incredible
spouses and children. He is predeceased by his parents, as well as
his sister Nora Jean and brother William Terrien. In lieu of gifts,
please consider donating to the Christopher M. Terrien Jr. MD ’67 Scholarship Fund at the UVM College of Medicine. This fund will be allocated to a UVM
medical student who demonstrates the same spirited work ethic and
commitment to patients that Chris espoused throughout his life.
Services
to celebrate Chris’ life will be held on February 20, 2025, 10:30
a.m., at St. Catherine’s Church in Shelburne, Vt. A live stream of
the funeral will be available on the day of or as a recording
thereafter at youtube.com/@stcatherinevt/streams. A celebration of
life will also be held on March 28, 2025, 5 p.m., at John’s Island
Club in Florida.
This article appears in Feb 5-11, 2025.