Dr. Edward George Hixson, Jr., M.D., age 81, of Upper St. Regis Lake, N.Y., died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, at his home.

Born in Oneida, N.Y., on November 11, 1941, he was the son of Dr. Edward and Doris (Cumings) Hixson, Sr.

Dr. Hixson married Karen Rightmyer on June 13, 1981, in Saugerties, NY.

He graduated from Middlebury College, Vermont, where he was a competitive cross country ski racer, turning down a chance to try out for the Olympics to attend the University of Vermont School of Medicine, as well as doing his internship and residency there as well.  A memorable summer was spent as a surgical resident at the Grenfell Mission in Newfoundland.  Almost 50 years later he returned to the Mission during a camping trip through Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

Dr. Hixson served as a battalion surgeon in the Army, and then later in the Vermont National Guard Mountain division, retiring as LTC.  He was a member of the American Legion. He moved to Saranac Lake in 1974 and practiced surgery sometimes at all three hospitals in the Tri Lakes all in the same day.  He served as a medical director for the medical advisory committee to the U.S. Nordic ski team, was Vice Chairman for Medical Services at the US Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid being instrumental during the 1980 Winter Olympics, served on the Saranac Lake Medical Staff, the Saranac Lake Medical Society, and the Lake Placid Sports Medicine Society.  He also directed a clinic at Whiteface Mountain.  He was instrumental in bringing the practice of sports medicine to the area.  During his time in Saranac Lake, he practiced with the Adirondack Surgical Group and Adirondack Health, bringing many new procedures and techniques to the medical community.

His experience in the Boy Scouts shaped his love and passion for the outdoors, being an avid mountain climber and canoer, as well as achieving the level of Eagle Scout.  Multiple expeditions either as the “doc” or just for fun, including Mount Everest three times “almost” reaching the summit, expeditions in Alaska, Peru, Pakistan, Tibet and Nepal.  His canoeing expeditions ranged across the United States and Canada, and he was part of the first kayak descent in Bhutan.  He won multiple medals in canoe races across New York, New England and Canada.  Family vacations almost always were atypical to say the least, usually a canoe trip anywhere from 50-350 miles.  Staring down a grizzly bear on the Thelon River in northern Canada was a highlight.  It is impossible to recount all his tales and adventures, as he had so many.

He was the author of several journal articles, sports medicine chapters and was in the process of completing a book about his “Long Path to Bear Pond,” which will be completed posthumously.  He was active on the boards of the Friends of the St. Regis Fire Tower, the Adirondack Health foundation and the Upper St. Regis Lake Property owners.

He is survived by his wife Karen, his brother Dr. F. Peter (Kathy) Hixson of Cazenovia his sister Jane Fuller of Cazenovia, his step sons Sam (Tammy) Bockius of Maui, HI, Kelly-Dave (Susan) Bockius of Hood River, OR, son Eric (Terri) Hixson of Hood River, son Peter (Janet) Hixson of Hood River, OR, daughter Heidi (Bill) Stevenson of Bend, OR, son Edward (Jessica) Hixson of Greenville, NY, son Christopher Hixson of Flower Mound, TX, grandchildren Roxanne, Pearl, Sailor, Winter, Hailey, Sascha, Nina, Tate, Reece, Cormac and Brynleigh, as well as his former wife Ellen Hixson of Hood River, OR, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. At Dr. Hixson’s request there will be no public calling hours. A celebration of life will take place at a later date, to be announced.

Family and friends wishing to remember Dr. Hixson may make memorial contributions to the Adirondack Health Foundation, or to the Friends of the St. Regis Fire Tower, in care of the funeral home.  Family and friends can also share their condolences and memories online at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.