MIDDLEBURY James Kydd Stewart Kirkaldy, 86, a retired family doctor who practiced in Westport, Mass., for 45 years, died May 21 at Helen Porter Nursing Home in Middlebury from complications after hip surgery. Born on July 3, 1928, in March, England, Kirkaldy, known as Stewart, was the only child of Scottish natives John and Rhoda Kydd Kirkaldy. After his early education in March, where he was an accomplished athlete as well as student, he went to medical school at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Following his graduation, he earned a Fulbright Scholarship and studied in Fall River, Mass. There he met Frances (Frankie) Carpenter Bowen. After a brief courtship, they were married and then moved to England, where he completed two years of military service as a medical lieutenant in Yorkshire with the Royal Air Force; he greatly admired the RAFs exploits in World War II. They returned to the U.S. before moving in the late 1950s to Nova Scotia, where Kirkaldy joined a practice. His experience with two national health services helped form his belief that such a system in the U.S. would be more efficient and fair. In 1960, they and their two young sons moved to Westport, where he worked long hours as the only doctor in that town. His practice, which started in his Main Road home, expanded into a new building on the property, and then into a nearby building that became the Westport Family Medicine Center. Until the early 1990s, he still made some house calls, a regular feature earlier in his practice. Early in his practice he also became an anti-smoking advocate, before the U.S. Surgeon General issued warnings. In the later years of his practice he focused more on geriatric care, serving as medical director of several regional nursing homes. He prided himself on listening to his patients in making diagnoses. He retired in 2005 at the age of 77 and moved to Middlebury. A recorded Quaker minister, Kirkaldy also served for many years as the clerk of the Westport Monthly Meeting of Friends, and later as the Middlebury Friends Meetings archivist. He also served two terms on the Westport Board of Selectmen, including as its chairman. He won many awards over the years. He was twice named Westports Man of the Year, received teaching honors from Brown University for his work shepherding medical students interested in family medicine, and several honors for his dedication to the well-being and care of seniors. He followed politics closely and loved reading, which he enjoyed during his retirement. He and his wife Frankie loved to travel. He also loved birdwatching and had an extensive life list; in his later years he was devoted to the Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington. He volunteered there, and also at the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History and with the Everybody Wins reading program at the Mary Hogan School. He was predeceased by his wife in 2007. He is survived by two sons, Andrew and his wife Kristine Barnes Kirkaldy of Middlebury, and Peter and his wife Marjorie Millan Kirkaldy of Afton, N.Y.; a sister-in-law, Natalie Bowen of Providence, R.I.; four grandchildren and one great grandson; a cousin, Ena Norrie of Kirriemuir, Scotland; and a number of nieces and nephews. Memorial services are planned at a later date in Middlebury and Westport. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Middlebury Friends Meeting, P.O. Box 1026, Middlebury, VT 05753; or to the Birds of Vermont Museum, 900 Sherman Hollow Road, Huntington, VT 05462