John Herbert Niles Jr.

Obituary

John Herbert Niles, Jr., M.D. (“Herb”), passed away peacefully on September 26, 2026, at his daughter’s home in Westminster, Maryland, surrounded by loved ones. He was 88 years old.

Born on January 17, 1938, in Washington, DC, Herb was the beloved son of the late John Herb Niles, Sr. and Arlena Smith Niles. Raised in the District of Columbia, he graduated from Spingarn High School in 1955, then earned his bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College in 1959. Herb earned his medical degree from the Howard University College of Medicine in 1963. After graduating from medical school, Herb served his country with distinction as a Vietnam War-era United States Army physician, where he was Chief of Service, Obstetrics and Gynecology at Irwin Army Hospital, Ft. Riley, Kansas, and Kirk Army Hospital, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. He received the United States Army Medical Corps Certificate of Achievement and was honorably discharged with the rank of major.

Following his military service, Herb devoted his life to women’s health. For more than 60 years, he served as a dedicated and respected obstetrician and gynecologist, caring for generations of patients and contributing to the health and well-being of his community. Herb was a member of the National Medical Association, the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, where he served as Chairman of the OB/GYN Section from 1984 to 1987, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, where he was a Fellow.

Herb’s commitment to public health and community service extended well beyond his medical practice. In 1983, Mayor Marion Barry appointed Herb Chairman of the Mayor’s Advisory Board on Maternal and Child Health, and in 1999, Mayor Anthony Williams appointed him Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Committee to Reduce Out-of-Wedlock Births and Teen Pregnancy. A respected leader in his field, Herb served on the Board of Directors of Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington, D.C., from 1985 to 1995. He chaired the hospital’s Ethics Committee from 1993 to 1995, and in 1993 he became the hospital’s first Black Chief of Staff. In 1996, he founded and served as Medical Director of the Columbia Hospital for Women Teen Health Center.

Throughout his life, Herb remained deeply connected to his alma mater, Allegheny College, proudly serving as a member of its Board of Trustees for three decades, from 1992 to 2022, with Trustee Emeritus status since 2023. He received the Allegheny College Blue Citation in 2011, the ABC Award in 2020, and an Allegheny College Honorary Degree in 2015.

While Herb’s professional accomplishments were many, his greatest joy was his family. He cherished the time spent with those he loved and will be remembered for his dedication, wisdom, generosity, and love. Herb also loved to read and enjoyed traveling. He particularly enjoyed spending time in Las Vegas, Aruba, the Southwest region of the United States, and Maine. Outside of his career and family, Herb enjoyed a good game of poker, and more recently, he developed a passion for painting, as it allowed him to express his natural gifts of dexterity, creativity, and attention to detail, which made him such a uniquely skilled physician.

Herb is survived by his wife, Amy; his children, John Herb, III (Rachel), Mark (Jennifer), Kahlida, Jonnell (Nic), Lyndsay (Brian), Hannah (John), and Justin. He is also survived by seven adored grandchildren: Grayce, Maxwell, Hilliard, Peck, Knox, Bellamy, and Samara.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial donations in Herb’s name to Allegheny College to support scholarships for Black students. For decades, Herb was committed to creating educational opportunities for Black students through scholarships and mentorship. Memorial gifts will help honor and support his legacy of investing in the next generation and expanding access to higher education for members of historically underrepresented communities.

Arrangements are under the direction of McGuire Funeral Service, 7400 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20012. The date and time of Herb’s celebration of life will be announced by the family at a later date. Online condolences may be shared at www.mcguire-services.com.

Memory wall

Service

Donate