Cantwell, Thomas

Thomas Joseph Cantwell It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Dr. Thomas Joseph Cantwell, MD, 73, who passed away at his home in Bristol, Va., on Wednesday, September 18, 2013. Dr. Cantwell, a psychiatrist, dedicated his life to serving the mental health needs of the people in his community. He cared deeply about the people and culture of southwestern Virginia and the Appalachian Mountains. Dr. Cantwell was born in Bristol, Va., on October 4, 1939. He was the oldest son of Judge Joseph Lapsley Cantwell and Mrs. Anna Ragan Cantwell. After graduating from Bristol Virginia High School and Randolph Macon College, Dr. Cantwell spent two years in Malawi in East Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer. It was an experience that had a formative influence on his life's direction. After returning from Africa, Dr. Cantwell embarked on his lifelong career of public service. He went to live in Washington, D.C., and got involved in several public service and civil rights causes there. In 1969, he married Dr. Mary Kathleen Gordon of Beaumont, Tex., and became father of Jennifer Beth Cantwell four years later.Tom then made the unlikely decision to enroll in medical school at the Autonomous University of Guadalajara in Mexico in 1977. As he often stated, the time spent with Jennifer in Mexico was one of the happiest of his life. After graduating from medical school, he then did his residency in psychiatry at the SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse, N.Y.. After working for the state hospital in Marion, Va., Dr. Cantwell returned to Washington a second time. There he reunited with former college sweetheart Norma Holland of Fulton, Ky. The two married in 1997 and returned to live in Bristol. Dr. Cantwell concluded his professional career working for Virginia Highlands Community Services in Abingdon, Va. After retiring in 2012, he lived the rest of his life in the home that his father built on Redbud Lane. Dr. Cantwell is survived by his daughter Jennifer Beth Cantwell Wood and her husband, Dr. James A. Wood; and grandchildren, Liam Atticus Wood and Opal Merriwether Wood, all of Greensboro, N.C.; his brother, Cameron Cantwell and his wife, Belinda Cantwell of Weaverville, N.C.; nieces, Tara Cantwell of Roanoke, Va., and Lisa Cantwell of Asheville, N.C.; and nephew Cameron Cody Cantwell, of Weaverville, N.C. The family will hold a memorial service for Dr. Cantwell, Saturday, September 28 2013, 2 p.m. at Akard Funeral Home in Bristol, Tenn. Friends, neighbors, and colleagues are invited to attend. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, to please make a small contribution in his name to the Bristol Public Library, 701 Goode St., Bristol, VA 24201. Email condolences may be sent to the family at akardfh@akardfuneralhome.com Akard Funeral Home, 1912 W. State St., Bristol, TN (423) 989-4800 is serving the family of Dr. Cantwell.