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John T. Carpenter Jr.,Obstetrics/Gynecology

John Carpenter, Jr.

John Carpenter

John T. Carpenter Jr., C’48, M’52, a retired obstetrician and gynecologist who delivered more than 5,000 babies and taught for 30 years at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine, died on May 5 at age 89.

Dr. Carpenter specialized in natural childbirth, using hypnosis as an alternative to painkillers. He established natural delivery birthing rooms at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and at Bryn Mawr Hospital. His innovations in childbirth management included allowing fathers into the delivery room and allowing mother-baby bonding in the hospital and early discharge from the medical center.

Dr. Carpenter graduated from Radnor High School in 1944 and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1948 and a medical degree in 1952, both at Penn. He completed an internship at Pennsylvania Hospital, served as an Army medical officer for two years and then began to practice in the Philadelphia area.

He joined the School of Medicine in 1955 as an assistant instructor of obstetrics-gynecology and became an instructor in 1958. He became an assistant professor in 1970, a role he held until he left in 1982.

Dr. Carpenter also maintained a solo OB/GYN practice in Bryn Mawr from 1958 until his retirement in 1997.

He is survived by his sons, John T., Geoffrey and Robert; five step-children; seven grandchildren; and a best friend and long-time travelling companion, Marian Houston. In addition, he is survived by former wives, Jean Dana and Carol Cherin.

Donations in Dr. Carpenter’s name may be made to the Cape May Observatory  or the Washington Memorial Chapel Foundation.

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