John “Jack” Daniels Agayoff, Jr., M.D., age 85, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina, surrounded by his family.

Born in Englewood and raised in Bergenfield, New Jersey, Jack was a gifted physician and a man who lived with integrity, wit, and heart. He graduated from Bergenfield High School before earning his A.B. degree from Columbia University. He completed his M.D. at the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center (now SUNY Brooklyn), where he was awarded research fellowships for special studies. He served a two-year tour of duty with the U.S. Public Health Service at the rank of Surgeon (Full Grade) and completed his internship and residency at State University - Kings County Hospital Medical Center in New York, as well as a fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Jack began his medical career in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a private practice at the Milwaukee Medical Clinic and staff appointments at Columbia Hospital (section chief 1982-1984) and St. Michael Hospital, where he made many close friends and colleagues, and served as Clinical Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin. In 1987, he relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina, where he opened a private practice, served on the medical staffs of Raleigh Community Hospital, Rex Hospital, and Wake Medical Center, and held an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He was passionate about bringing thoughtful, kind, and thorough care to his patients, and retired in 2005.

Jack’s intelligence was matched by his sharp sense of humor and signature love of teasing. He delighted in a well-timed joke and a clever comeback. He was curious, eager to learn and to creatively solve problems (especially those involving his children’s grade school projects!), and fiercely loved his family. This mix made him a one-of-a-kind character “marching to the beat of his own drummer.”

His passions were varied—classic cars, 1950s music and pop culture, fishing, boating, and summer days at Charleston Lake in Ontario, Canada with Canadian relatives and the rest of his family. His love for the 1950s was well illustrated by the perfection of his classic cars, the amazing lip-syncing skits performed with friends at Miller’s Shorewood Vista, and his surprise singing performance of “Take Good Care of My Baby” at his daughter’s wedding. He was a devoted member of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA), showed his cars at local, regional, and national shows, and judged at national car shows. His beloved cars earned him many awards and invitations to display them at museums, on television, and elsewhere. His love for boating was evident in his absolute dedication to fishing, love of water sports, trophy-winning hydroplane racing in his youth, and volunteering as a pit doctor at boat races. His enthusiasm and eye for detail reflected both his professional precision and his personal joy.

Jack is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth Curran Agayoff; his daughter, Joanne Agayoff Deocampo, her husband Daniel Deocampo, and their children Gabriella and Alexander; his son, Daniel “Danny” Peter Agayoff and his wife, Consuela Agayoff; and his sister, Kathleen Barzun and her family. He is deeply loved and will be remembered always for his cleverness, care, and humor.

Special thanks go to Seniors Helping Seniors for their compassionate assistance and to Transitions Hospice Care for their tender and gracious services to the whole family through this important time of transition.

A celebration of life will be held on July 19, 2025, at 1pm, at Church of the Nativity (8849 Ray Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613), where family and friends will gather to honor Jack’s life. His burial will take place at a later date at Holy Trinity Church, Oak Leaf in Athens, Ontario, Canada.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the N.C. Transportation Museum at Spencer and Church of the Nativity.