Dr. Isaac O. Mehrez

Dr. Isaac O. Mehrez of Belmont passed away suddenly on Sept 16, 2020. He was the beloved husband of Mary (Psaltopoulos) Mehrez. The loving father of Lisa Mehrez and Bob Mehrez and his wife Leslie.  The cherished grandfather of Daphne, Giotty, Jaclyn, Alexia and Maddie. 

Ike emigrated from Egypt in 1956 and settled in Belmont in 1964 where he lived for the remainder of his life. He had a long career in medicine, retiring as Chief of Surgery at Mt Auburn Hospital in 1999. 

Ike and Mary arrived in the US together in 1956. He took his first job as a medical intern at St Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, MA which introduced him to the Massachusetts Southcoast area and the town of Mattapoisett where the couple would later buy a second home. The couple married in 1957 at the chapel of the Beth Israel Hospital following a marriage license jurisdiction mix up between Boston and Brookline, something Mary jokingly attributes to immigrant ignorance of local rules. The two moved about the state and country for the next few years. His medical training residencies would take him to Boston and Houston, and he would finally settle back here and establish a private practice in Cambridge and Mt Auburn Hospital. They raised two children in Belmont.

Together they traveled extensively, visiting every continent. They were witness to world events, being in Beijing during the Chinese uprising in 1989, and in LA during the 1992 riots. Ike loved to walk beautiful beaches, collect shells and enjoy local cuisine. They also spent extended periods in Greece and Florida over the years but were always eager to get home to Belmont.

Ike was a dedicated father and caregiver, the latter both at home and work. He was known by many as “Doc” for stitching a neighbor’s cut or offering advice. He loved to be in the company of his family and valued his friends. He took great pride in his garden and insisted on doing all the work himself well into his eighties. He was thrifty and frugal, crafty and resourceful, and liked to save every jar and box he received just in case he might need it one day.

He spent this summer in the company of family and friends. His days were filled with walks on the Mattapoisett beach he loved, morning coffees watching the ocean, and large bowls of ice cream. A tragic accident ended things abruptly and, in a strange twist, his life ended in the same hospital where his career began. The family would like to thank the neighbors, first responders and hospital caregivers who provided aid and comfort in his final days.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Buzzards Bay Coalition https://www.savebuzzardsbay.org/ or Mt Auburn Hospital https://www.mountauburnhospital.org/giving/make-a-gift-today/ 

At the family’s request his funeral services will be private.

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