John S. Reidell

Dr. John S. Reidell, M.D., FACS, passed away peacefully at his home in Plattsburgh, New York, on Friday, April 10, 2026, surrounded by his wife and children. Born in 1941 in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, John grew up in nearby Mifflinburg with his five siblings.

A gifted scholar and athlete, he attended the United States Naval Academy and was later commissioned in the U.S. Army Reserve, serving from 1959 to 1965. He transferred to and graduated from Penn State University, where he lettered on the Nittany Lions baseball team, which competed in the 1963 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. While there, John met Patricia Dieter of Vail, Iowa, at a dance organized by her Creighton–St. Joseph’s Nursing School roommate. They were married the following year, in September 1964. Family lore says he wooed her with a book of poetry.

John attended Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia and completed his internship in Omaha and his residency in Harrisburg, fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a general surgeon. He raised his family and built his career in State College, Pennsylvania, and later practiced medicine in Nebraska, Michigan, and North Dakota. Over the course of his career, Dr. Reidell helped innumerable patients through his surgical practice and, later, through charitable surgical missions to Haiti and the Philippines.

Hard work and competitive play were central themes in John’s life. He took pride in winning a spelling bee sponsored by Goldey‑Beacom College while in eighth grade. He was a founding member of the Harrisburg Rugby Football Club in 1969, ran the Boston Marathon in Converse sneakers, played clay‑court tennis with friends and family, and was a nationally ranked racquetball player for many years. An avid freshwater fisherman, he enjoyed indoor cycling and, in later years, competing with family on puzzles and crosswords. During Phillies seasons, John and Patty shared a bowl of vanilla ice cream for good luck during the seventh inning.

Above all, Dr. Reidell was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. He is survived by his wife, Patricia D. Reidell, Ed.D.; Steve and Anne Reidell Smith, Robert and Kathryn Reidell Shaheen, Sarah Reidell, and Benjamin and Dr. Kate Reidell; seven granddaughters; and a large, extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles E. and Mabel E. (Shaffer) Reidell; his stepmother, Josette Lucienne Dubois Reidell; his brother, Charles “Skeet” Reidell; and his sisters Roberta Hollenbach and Rhoda Fasano, and their husbands.

At his request, John’s body was donated to the Anatomical Gift Program at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, continuing his lifelong commitment to medicine and education by supporting advanced anatomy training for students and medical professionals.

There will be no calling hours or memorial service. A Celebration of Life will be held by the family at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to either Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ or Hospice of the North Country https://www.hospicenc.org/.