Terrance P. '"Doc"' O'Rourke

Boonville - Terrance P. O'Rourke, 63, known by his many friends as "Doc", passed away on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Terry was born in Manhattan on November 5, 1946, a son of John and Rita (Carroll) O'Rourke. He grew up in the Bronx where he graduated in the first class from St. Raymond's Catholic School. Mr. O'Rourke entered the U.S. Army on February 23, 1965, serving his country in the Vietnam War as a Medical Specialist. He was honorably discharged from active service on February 19, 1968, and continued to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves until February 22, 1971. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal. Following his military service, Terry attended and graduated from Belmont College, Nashville, TN, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. On August 20, 1981, he graduated from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, where he successfully completed all requirements of the Physician Assistant Program. Following graduation, he was employed at Vanderbilt Medical University Center, Nashville, TN, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY, Sing Sing Correctional Facility, Ossining, NY, Faxton Hospital, Utica, and the Carthage Area Hospital, Carthage. He then moved to Boonville, where he was a Physician Assistant in a private practice on Main Street. After moving to Boonville, Doc realized that the village of Boonville, the North Country and the people there were to be his new home and family. He is survived by cousins in the New York City area, many friends in this area, in addition to his "motorcycle riding family" and his beloved canine companions. He was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church, Boonville, a life member of Harland J. Hennessey Post VFW and a member of Charles J. Love Post American Legion, both of Boonville, an active member of the Boonville Rescue Squad. After serving many years in the Boonville Fire Co. and Ambulance Corps he became an honorary member. He was also a member of the NRA. He greatly enjoyed riding his motorcycle, and was a member and Legislative Coordinator of Lewis County ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education), and a member of the American Motorcycle Association. His funeral will be Monday at 3:00 p.m. at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler Street, Boonville, where the Rev'd Sean Patrick O'Brien, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Boonville, will officiate. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Queens, NY. Visitation is Sunday from 5-8 p.m.at the funeral home. Contributions may be made in Doc's memory to the Stevens-Swan Humane Society, Horatio Street, Utica, NY 13502. Please use the "Sign Guestbook" link below to leave an online message of sympathy or share a memory of Doc.