“Whatever success I’ve had in my life I can attribute to Peddie.” — John Lloyd ’64 P’16

Powerful words from an alumnus with a 46-year career in innovative healthcare. One of Peddie’s chief aspirations is to encourage students to strive for the highest quality of citizenship, and Lloyd, who graduated over a half-century ago, has walked the walk ever since.

“I have very fond memories of Peddie,” asserted Lloyd. “I loved it from day one. Everyone was engaged or concerned about us as students.

“It’s like a family. That’s the best way I can put it.” he said.

His resume certainly reads like a point-by-point roadmap to success: Peddie class president and captain of the lacrosse team. Princeton University. Service in the U.S. Marine Corps. M.B.A. in health administration from Temple University. Former president and CEO of Meridian Health and former co-CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest health network. Seats at several boards across New Jersey and nationwide, and a healthcare professional multi-award winner. 

Recently retired, Lloyd joined classmates, faculty and friends at his 55th reunion. He also is “very happy” to serve as a Peddie trustee. What's more, Lloyd said his son Dylan, Class of ’16, loved his experience at Peddie, and maintains many friendships from his time here.  

Lloyd’s interpersonal skills and his ability to zero in on what patients need most (“Patients come first; that’s what I always say,” he stressed) led to groundbreaking developments in New Jersey healthcare. Lloyd is credited with establishing Jersey Shore Medical Center outpatient service locations that offered care beyond the hospital campus — a novel idea in the late 1980s — and open-heart surgery services, a regional trauma center and a comprehensive patient care facility. All were provisions new to the area, and all have thrived.

Looking back on such a prolific career, what does Lloyd consider the feather in his cap? “Creating an atmosphere where everyone’s working together. Treating people well,” he said. 

Working in health administration and spending his days engaging with patients and staff was an ideal fit for Lloyd. “I loved every minute of it, the whole idea of caring for people,” he said. “I’m very much a people person. I care deeply about our team members and our community. 

“That goes back to Peddie,” he emphasized. “That’s what you did. You took care of each other.”