Dr. James Christian Dillon

Dr. James Christian Dillon, a respected figure in the field of medicine and a dedicated public servant, passed away on November 15, 2023, in Carmel, Indiana. He was 83 years old.

Born to Dr. James A. and Julia (Christian) Dillon on March 7, 1940, in Noblesville, Indiana, Dr. Dillon's life was marked by a profound commitment to both his profession and his community. He graduated from DePauw University and went on to excel at the Indiana University School of Medicine, specializing in cardiovascular diseases. His journey of service began in the U.S. Navy, where he served as a Lt. Commander from 1970 to 1972. During this time, he held the positions of Chief of Cardio-Pulmonary Medicine and Director of Med-Evac Operations at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base in North Carolina.

Following his service in the Navy, Dr. Dillon returned to the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he became a respected Professor of Medicine. His impact on the field was far-reaching, as he authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles, many of which became seminal papers in the field of cardiology. Dr. Dillon's passion for education shone through as he shared his knowledge with thousands of medical students, as well as hundreds of residents and fellows. Notably, he played a crucial role in establishing the Interventional Cardiology Program and served as its Director until his retirement in 2004.

Beyond his contributions to medicine, Dr. Dillon had a longstanding commitment to public service. In 1973, he joined the Wayne Township (Marion County) Volunteer Fire Department Co. 9, where he served as a firefighter and in various roles, which included as District Chief of WTFD Co. #9 until 1985. Holding Master's certificates in Instruction, Tactics, and Arson Investigation from the State of Indiana, he demonstrated exemplary dedication to fire service. In 1974, he was appointed by Governor Otis Bowen to serve on Indiana's inaugural Emergency Medical Services Commission (EMS), eventually chairing the commission from 1974 to 1980. Additionally, he was a member of the Indianapolis Mayor's committee on EMS from 1975 to 1985 and contributed as a board member of the Fireman's and Policeman's Clinic at Wishard Hospital from 1976 to 1990.

In 1985, Dr. Dillon and his family moved to Carmel, Indiana, where his commitment to public service continued to shine. He served on the Clay Township Civil Board for 17 years, tirelessly supporting the Carmel Fire Department and emergency services. Dr. Dillon's legacy includes his leadership role by sponsoring the creation of the award-winning Carmel-Clay Parks and Recreation in 1991.

Dr. James C. Dillon is survived by his wife of 62 years, Susannah (Harger) Dillon, and their children: Dr. William C. (Sally) Dillon of Louisville, KY; John C. Dillon of Brownsburg, IN; and Matthew C. (Ammie) Dillon of Carmel, IN. He is also survived by his brother Daniel C. (Cathi) Dillon of Hickory, NC, sister Nancy (Henry) Pogue of Ft. Thomas, KY, and cherished grandchildren: Julia Dillon (Alex) Sholtz, Jack Dillon, Kate Dillon, Isabelle Dillon, Samuel Dillon, Becky Dillon, Cheyenne Dillon, and Tabitha Dillon.

A funeral to celebrate Dr. James Christian Dillon's life will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 20, 2023, at the Flanner Buchanan Funeral Home located at 325 Carmel Drive in Carmel, Indiana. Visitation for friends and family will take place from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, November 19, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to the Carmel Fire Department Gift Fund at 210 Veterans Way Suite 200 Carmel, IN 46032 or to the Carmel/Clay Parks Foundation, P.O. Box 3881, Carmel, Indiana, 46082. These contributions will help honor Dr. Dillon's dedication to his community and his lifelong commitment to public service.