James C. Strickler

James C. Strickler, MD peacefully passed away on June 27, 2026, surrounded by family. Two weeks prior, Jim had celebrated his 99th birthday with family and friends. He now joins Pegge his beloved wife of 70 years and their son John. Jim was Dean Emeritus of Dartmouth Medical School, Co-Chairman Emeritus of the International Rescue Committee, as well as co-founder of the Kosovo based non-profit organization: Action for Mothers and Children.

Jim was born in Wilkinsburg, PA in 1927 to Jacob Harold and Annabelle Strickler (nee Watt). He grew up in Mt. Lebanon, PA and attended Dartmouth College (class of 1950), after 2 years of service in the US Merchant Marine at the end of World War II. Knowing he wanted to be a doctor from an early age, Jim graduated from Dartmouth Medical School (then a 2-year medical science program) in 1951 and received his MD from Cornell Medical College in 1953. His post-graduate training in internal medicine and physiology continued at New York Hospital where he was the Chief Medical Resident. Interrupting medical training, he was called upon by the US Navy from 1954-1956 as the independent medical officer aboard the USS Kenneth Whiting in the western Pacific. Following his residency, he was a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Physiology and then served as Assistant Professor of Medicine at Cornell Medical College.

In 1967, Jim moved his family to Hanover NH upon acceptance of an offer from Dartmouth Medical School as Associate Dean to help plan for the transition from a two-year basic medical science program to a full MD curriculum. He then served as Dean from 1973-1981. Following his Deanship, he remained as a faculty member and returned to practice qualifying in geriatrics and specializing in the care of the elderly until 1996. He saw patients at The Dartmouth Family Practice Center at Alice Peck Day and finished his clinical career at the Dartmouth academic practice at Buck Road. After ceasing clinical practice, as a Professor of Medicine and Community and Family Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School Jim taught international health and coordinated the School’s extensive activities in Kosovo.

After retirement as Dean, Jim devoted himself to humanitarian medicine caring for refugees and conflict-affected communities across Asia, Africa, the Balkans and beyond through the International Rescue Committee (“IRC”). His initiation to global health began in 1981, when he and Pegge were IRC volunteers in Khao-I-Dang, Thailand’s largest refugee camp for Cambodians. Over the following decades, Jim undertook at least 25 overseas trips with the IRC. Jim was a member of the IRC Board of Directors for more than four decades and from 1999-2004 served as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors with his close friend, Winston Lord. He subsequently served on the Board of Advisors. Besides the IRC, he was on the Board of Directors of the Global Health Council and was a former Chairman of the Board of the National Council for International Health.

In addition to his work with the IRC and other health organizations, Jim led Dartmouth’s longstanding work in Kosovo and co-founded Action for Mothers and Children: an organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers and children in Kosovo, which carries on its work today. In 2012, Kosovo President Jahjaga presented him with the Mother Teresa Medal and in 2013 the Albanian American Medical Society honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his humanitarian work in Kosovo.

Jim and Pegge, having both grown up in Pittsburgh PA and residing in New York City for 14 years, embraced life in northern New England. In 1969 they bought an old farmhouse and barns on 16 acres in Norwich VT. There they continued raising their five children: Jim, Carol, John, Gail and David and created a nurturing home where grandchildren and great grandchildren spent numerous vacations and celebrated many holidays. Jim was especially fond of taking his grandchildren down to the “new barn” to feed the cows. He was bestowed several nicknames by his grandchildren most notably “Papa Jim” or “PJ” and “The Ice Cream Man” by his great grandsons.

Jim loved their Vermont homestead. Riding his tractors around the lower and upper fields was one of his favorite pastimes as was puttering around the barns and feeding the cows. He planted many trees over the years that have grown to impressive heights, especially a towering willow that grew from a single branch he stuck in the ground decades ago. Blueberry and raspberry bushes, apple and other fruit trees are part of his legacy of the land he loved.

Beyond their property, Jim and Pegge were avid world travelers taking numerous trips to Europe, Asia and across the United States. Among other pursuits he fished (flies only, of course), skied downhill and cross country, kayaked, hiked and was an avid squash player making new friends on the courts of Dartmouth. He relished meeting people and was often found in local coffee spots chatting up new and old acquaintances.

Jim was pre-deceased by his wife, Pegge, and their son, John. He is survived by his daughters, Carol (Oke) and Gail (Al), and sons, David and Jim (Jes). Grandchildren, Zach (Anthony), Megan (Joe), Ami (Mark), Monika (Becky) and Lena. Great grandchildren, Lucas, Gabriel, Ada and a yet-to-be-named great granddaughter due any day.

A memorial for Jim and Pegge will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the healthcare related charity of your choosing.

Knight Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed in an online guestbook found at www.knightfuneralhomes.com