Father John S. “Jack” Wintermyer, a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington for nearly 60 years, died after a short illness July 2 at St. Joseph's Villa in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. He was 85.

 During his 59 years as a priest, Father Wintermyer served the faithful as a parochial vicar, as a hospital and university chaplain, an educator and as a medical professional tending to the poor and homeless of Washington, D.C., and Maryland. He retired in 2005 and later relocated to Pennsylvania.

 From 1977, when he earned a degree in healthcare science from George Washington University, until his retirement in 2005, Father Wintermyer worked at various health clinics for the homeless in Washington, D.C.

 “I see the fervor of mercy and love offered at these clinics,” Father Wintermyer noted in a 2006 article about his work that he wrote for the Catholic Standard. He specialized in foot care of the homeless, and wrote that he was motivated to work in podiatry after seeing an icon of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.

 “If you are homeless and on the street, your feet are your transportation, your only means of going anywhere,” he wrote. “If Jesus so symbolized His ministry simply in the washing of the feet, how could I not symbolize my ministry as a priest by … this expression of love?”

He wrote that by offering podiatry services in those clinics, “what is seen as a simple medical procedure becomes truly a loving act of mercy to a homeless person.”

 A native of Washington, D.C., John Wintermyer was born Jan. 22, 1936, one of three sons born to Vincent and Helena Wintermyer. He attended Sacred Heart School and was graduated from Gonzaga College High School, prior to entering St. Charles Preparatory Seminary in Catonsville, Maryland, and later St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Washington in May 1962 at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle.

 He served as a parochial vicar at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Lexington Park, Maryland and St. Stephen Martyr Parish in Washington, D.C. before his 1967 assignment as chaplain to Catholic students and staff at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland.

 A year later, he was named chaplain to Catholic students and staff at George Washington University, and was also appointed as assistant in the Office of Continuing Education for Priests.

 In 1972, Father Wintermyer earned a master’s degree in adult education from George Washington University. In 1977, after earning a degree in healthcare science from the same university, he became a licensed physician assistant. At that time, he also served as parochial vicar at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington.

 In 1979, he traveled to Thailand and served for one year with the Georgetown Medical Team there.

 From 1980 until his retirement, Father Wintermyer served as director of Catholic ministry at Washington Hospital Center and coordinator of Catholic ministries at the National Rehabilitation Hospital and at Children’s Hospital. He also served for a time as Catholic chaplain at George Washington University Hospital.

While continuing in his roles as chaplain at those hospitals, Father Wintermyer in 1984 began serving as a parochial vicar at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Washington. In 1987, he joined Unity Health Care, tending to homeless patients as a physician assistant in various clinics throughout the District.

In his 2006 article for the Catholic Standard, Father Wintermyer wrote that “as Jesus healed, people stood and walked away rejoicing. How often I have experienced that response as people could get up and walk away from the podiatry chair, and with a great smile, walk away rejoicing.”

In 1998, he was honored with the Washington Hospital Center’s Community Service Award for his work with the homeless. In 2001, he was presented with the Clinician of the Year Award from the National Healthcare of the Homeless Association.

Outside of his medical and pastoral duties, Father Wintermyer also taught religious education and served as chaplain to the D.C. National Guard. After his retirement, he worked for a time as a physician assistant at Mercy Clinic in Gaithersburg, Maryland, prior to relocating to Pennsylvania.

Predeceased by his parents and his brother Vincent, Father Wintermyer is survived by one brother, Paul, of Frederick, Maryland, many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Per Father WIntermyer’s request, funeral services and burial were private. Donations in his memory may be made to Christ House, 1717 Columbia Road, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009.