Calling Hours:
Wednesday, February 15, 2017, 10:00-11:00am
Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation
Services, Inc., 366-368 S. Main St., Greenville, PA
Funeral Service:
Wednesday, February 15, 2017, 11:00am
Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation
Services, Inc., 366-368 S. Main St., Greenville, PA
Rabbi Frank Muller, officiating
Rabbi of the Congregation Rodef Sholom, Youngstown, OH
Burial will be in Shenango Valley Cemetery
Gilbert Meltsner, M.D., age 84, of 339 E. Jamestown Rd., Greenville formerly of Moorestown, NJ, passed away Saturday morning February 11, 2017 at St. Paul's.Â
He was born in Philadelphia, PA on October 6, 1932 the son of Dr. Louis and Miriam (Blank) Meltsner. He was a graduate of Central High School in Philadelphia graduating a year early, Columbia University in New York City, and Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia. He completed his internship at Monmouth Hospital in New Jersey and his residency at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. He received his medical license on August 27, 1961 and kept it active in PA, NJ, NY, and HI until retiring in 2001. He practiced at Rancocas Valley Hospital in Willingboro, NJ, for 40 years and was made chairman of the radiology department for the last several.
Gilbert was a Reserved Commission Officer, Rank of Captain, in the United States Army. He was a member of the American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, American Board of Radiology, and Emeritus Member of the Medical Society of New Jersey. Â
He was an avid airplane enthusiast, held his pilot's license, and owned airplanes which he loved to fly on mini family vacations. He truly enjoyed: photography, art, traveling, especially to Hawaii, model trains, drawing, stamp collecting, was a sports enthusiast, and taught himself how to play the organ.
He is survived by three daughters; Meredith Anderson and her husband Dr. Stuart Anderson of Greenville, Susan Toscano and her husband Paul of Englishtown, NJ, Lori Gregg and her husband Jeffrey of Oceanport, NJ; three sons, Dr. Michael Meltsner and his wife Dr. Sheridan Meltsner of Durham, NC, Darryl Ceremsak and his partner Ludwig Fontalvo-Abello of Philadelphia, PA , Jerome Meltsner and his wife Deborah and their family of Norfolk, VA; five grandchildren, Emory Anderson, Ainsley Anderson, Felicity Anderson, Jodi Gregg, and Juli Gregg; and his previous wives, Barbara Meltsner of Greenville and Judith Feinstein of Long Branch, NJ.Â
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, “LBDA”, 912 Killian Hill Road S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047.
So sorry to hear of Gil’s passing. I will remember him tossing a baseball with Mike in your yard next door. Also, the many, many Friday night dinners that Craig enjoyed at Ponzio’s or Bennihana’s with Mike, Barb, and Gil.
Dear Meltsner family:
I wish to convey my sincerest condolences to your entire family. Losing a loved one in death is one is one of the hardest things that anyone will ever have to deal with. There is a great hope held out to us for the future because God promises to bring those we lost back to life by means of a resurrection to a paradise earth, where sickness and death will be no more. I hope this brief message will bring you a measure of comfort in this difficult time.
Rest in Peace, Dad… Thank you for the seeds of life and knowledge you planted; the independence you granted, the pride you found ways to express. I would not be me if it were not for you. And I am grateful.
Dear Meredith and Stuart,
Please accept my sincerest condolences on the passing of your father. I know you loved him deeply. We will keep you and the family in our prayers. May God bless you with his comfort and grace.
Connie, Tom, Peter, and Katherine Timashenka
Patricia Cameron
Bye, Dad…Thank you…I hope you are doing what you loved most…flying onto a new adventure.
I have many, many fond memories as a child growing up with Dad such as flying in his airplane with him on weekends, the smell of fried matzo on Sunday mornings or the funny way he aggressively put on his socks every morning, but I have to say to most fond and meaningful memories I will take with me are those I have of the last 14 years.
I want to be honest in saying that it was not all smooth sailing. It was hard at times trying to give Dad the attention he needed when I had my 3 girls to take care of as well. And let’s face it-we all know Dad could be a bit difficult at times.
But as my children grew older and more independent, I was able to spend more time with Dad one-on-one. In the last year or so especially, I would go in to visit early in the morning. These were the most special times because it was just him and me, quiet and alone. And although his ability to converse with me might have been little, we would just sit, listen to music and hold hands.
In these times of quiet, I had a chance to reflect on our relationship often wishing, as you do, some things had been different or I hadn’t said some things that I knew were wrong -but I realize I can’t change the past. Instead, what I did reflect on is how lucky I am to have a better understanding. As I grow older and as a parent, I realize I find myself making decisions and choices for my girls based on what I FEEL I know is best because I love them so much. And Stuart reminded me just the other day, Dad did the same. He showed us HIS love and care the best way HE knew how because HE loved us so much. I might not have understood then but I feel truly blessed I have this understanding now.
Lastly, I’d like to share with you a gift my dad recently gave me. As many of you know, Dad hadn’t really been able to speak for a long time now and especially over the past several months he would sleep most of the day. But Linda would always make a point of having Dad call when he was having an particularly awake day. This past December, when we knew things were progressing, Dad miraculously had almost 2 weeks in which he was the most awake and verbal he had been in the last 6 months. Linda called and Dad and I talked a bit about our day. And then, as I always did, I said, “Bye, Dad. Love you.” And instead of the usual quiet I heard on the other end Dad said as clear as day, “Love you, daughter.”
This was the best gift my father has ever given me.
Dad, I love you. You are in a better place now and you will never be alone.