Dr. Arthur O. Phinney Jr., a longtime Chappaquiddick summer resident, died peacefully in his sleep at home in Farmington, Conn., on Dec. 9, 2023. He was 97 years old and had been in declining health in recent years.

Art spent many summers on Chappaquiddick, where he and his family were part of a large extended family that included the Knights, Jones, Tilghmans, Gostenhofers, Turnbulls and Pinneys. He and his wife Be spent many happy years on Chappy enjoying family gatherings and sailing adventures. Art designed and had the shell built for a modest beach house on Cape Pogue Bay. He finished the interior with the help of his children and extended family.

He was the middle son of the Rev. Arthur O. Phinney and Lucille Flagg Phinney. He was born in Boston in 1926 and spent his early years in Lynn and Winchester, where his father was an Episcopal priest. He had two brothers, Frederick (Fred) and William (Bill). Fred was an Episcopal priest and served in numerous parishes during his extensive career. Bill was the head of Dexter Southfield School in Brookline for more than 50 years. Bill survives both his brothers.

Art’s early academic years were spent in Massachusetts public schools, and he graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover in 1944. Immediately after graduation, Art enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed in the Philippines and was honorably discharged in 1946.

He was a graduate of Harvard College, class of 1950. He continued his education graduating from Columbia University Medical School, College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1953.

While at Harvard, one of Art’s best decisions was to go on a blind date with Be Turnbull. This later led to marriage and a family while Art was in medical school. He and Be were married for more than 60 years and had a strong and loving partnership, raising a family, contributing to their community, traveling extensively and hosting foreign students and medical faculty.

Dr. Phinney was a physician in the Hartford area for almost 40 years. He started as a general practitioner in Farmington then went on to specialize in cardiology moving his office closer to Hartford Hospital where he continued his practice for over 30 years. Dr. Phinney was also active with University of Connecticut Medical Center from its initial stages as a teaching hospital.

While he was, at his core, a medical professional, education was essential to him. He often remarked that “a good education is really the only thing that you can give your children.”

He is survived by his sons, Terry and his spouse Helen and Jonathan and his spouse Manley; his daughter Susan and her husband Robert, and his daughter in law, Sue. His third son, Christopher, pre-deceased him. His wife of 62 years, Dorothy or Be, died in 2012. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Barton, Jonathan, Arthur IV, Brooke, Alden, and Clare and two great-grandchildren, Declan and Adelyn.

In addition to his immediate family, Dr. Phinney is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be held at St. James Church in Farmington, Conn. on April 27.

Memorial donations may be made to the Chappaquiddick Community Center – Endowment Fund at chappycommunitycenter.org/support-us/ways-to-give/ or to Amref Health Africa at amref.org.