MASSENA – A well-known doctor who operated his practice for over 50 years, who was also a longtime school physician and former co-owner of the St. Regis Nursing Home has died.

Dr. Henry Joseph Dobies, 87, died at his home Jan. 31. He was born to John and Helen Welenc Dobies in Braddock, Penn., on August 11, 1927.

He worked as the school physician for the Massena Central, Salmon River Central, and St. Lawrence Central school districts for many years.

Dobies helped found the St. Regis Nursing Home, serving as its medical director for 35 years and co-owner for over 43 years. He opened the doctors’ clinic on East Orvis Street and worked there for over 50 years.

He was an assistant clinical professor of family practice at SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, president of the St. Lawrence County Chapter of the New York State Academy of Family Practice, and from 1971 to 1979, he served as the secretary-treasurer of the medical staff and the director of medical education at Massena Memorial Hospital.

He was the Massena Narcotics Council Advisor from 1971 to 1975. He also did a stint as chief of medicine at Massena Memorial.

He was also a certified charter diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice, charter fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians Recognition Awards for Teaching.

He was the vice president and president of the St. Lawrence County Medical Society from 1977 to 1979. He also was a delegate to the fifth District Medical Society of New York State, and the medical director of the Can-Am Youth Service at Rose Hill. He was the vice chairman of the New York State Academy of Family Physician’s Credential and Membership Committee, Legislative Committee and the Education Committee.

Dobies served as chairman of the St. Lawrence County Medical Society Legislative and Public Relations Committee. He was on the board of directors for the New York State Academy, as well as the speaker of the house.

He was elected president of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians in 1986. Dobies was also affiliated with the American Medical Association, Pan-American Medical Society, American Geriatric Society, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, Northern New York Independent Practice Association, and the North Country Physician’s Organization. He had served on the Rural Practice Committee of the Medical Society, Committee on Medicaid, and served as the Chairman of the Committee on Rural Affairs. He served as president of the Northern New York IPA, and he was a member of the Primary Care Network of Northern New York board of directors. He was also a St. Lawrence Social Services Department for Managed Care advisory board member.

Dobies received the American Medical Association Physician Recognition Award from 1970 to 2004. He enjoyed a weekly radio program with WMSA called “Tell the Doctor.” He often toured different areas of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties speaking on topics including drug abuse prevention.

He received his 50-year medical staff certificate from MMH, the Town of Massena’s Fifty-Year Achievement Award, and also the Citizen Achievement Award from the Massena Chamber of Commerce.

“For all his activities and achievements in his profession, nothing was more important to him as a physician than his patients,” his obituary reads.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving from January 1946 to November 1947. He graduated from what was then known as the University of Pittsburgh in 1949 with a bachelor of science degree. In 1953, he completed his medical training at Hahnemann University Medical School in Philadelphia.

On July 17, 1954, Dobies married Peggy Gay. The couple moved to Massena during the boom of the Seaway Project. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Peggy, his children, Nancy and John Bogosian of Massena, Margaret and Sidney Herman of Chicago, Beth Anne and Anthony Bogdovitz of Massena, and John Michael Dobies of Austin, Texas.

Calling hours will be at the Phillips Memorial Home in Massena on Friday, Feb. 6, from 1 to 3 p.m. and then again from 5 to 7 p.m. with a funeral service at 7 p.m. with Rev. Tojo Chacko officiating.

Online condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.phillipsmemorial.com

To read his obituary, click here.