Dr. John C. Mesch

Albany - Dr. John C. Mesch died suddenly December 11th while working at St. Peter’s Hospital, a place where he loved and worked for 50 years. 

He was born in St Louis, MO in January 1933 and was adopted by his loving parents, Maurine and Harold Mesch.  John grew up in Ferguson, MO, Silver Spring, MD and East Orange, NJ, where he attended East Orange High School, graduating in 1951. He started at Wesleyan University, but left to enlist in the army during the Korean War. He was stationed in Germany ready to deploy when the war ended. He was honorably discharged and returned to the US to spend a storied summer manning a fire tower solo in Idaho.  

John continued his education at the University of Vermont and went on to attend the University of Vermont Medical School, graduating in 1961. He completed his residency in New York City at Roosevelt Hospital, moved to Albany, NY in 1970 and started a private practice, later becoming Chief of Pulmonary Medicine at St Peter’s Hospital and a partner in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Services. He was an attending physician at St. Peter’s, Samaritan, and Albany Memorial Hospitals in addition to Albany Medical Center where he was also an Assistant Professor of Medicine.  

He was devoted to his patients, was a talented artist and master of words who couldn’t resist a pun; he loved word play and humor, was a great tennis and platform tennis player and golfer who took pride in organizing senior golf in his later years.  He always had a camera in hand and loved to walk local destinations to get the perfect shot – he was a fixture at Washington Park, Thatcher Park and Buckingham Pond. He loved the beauty of nature and its creativity. John visited Bermuda for the last 40 years where he could be found on the tennis court, at sunrise on the beach, or driving a moped all over the island taking photos. 

He was a longtime member of Schuyler Meadows and Coral Beach Clubs, was a dapper dresser, true gentleman in every sense of the word, adored by patients, respected by colleagues and mentees. 

John is survived by his cherished daughters and sons-in-law: Cristine and Jonathan Sapers of NYC, Claudia and Damon Smith of Seattle, WA and Amy and John Favreau of Loudonville, NY; and grandchildren, Nina and Miranda Sapers, Elsa, Adelaide and Orson Smith and Charlie Favreau. He is predeceased by his parents and loving sister, Joanne Harford and darling wife, Marney Mesch. 

 A celebration of his life will be held in the spring. There will be a notification in the Times Union at that time.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation, the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine or the Washington Park Conservancy.

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