Anthony “Tony” Nickolas Mendesh M.D.
On April 8, 2023, Anthony “Tony” Nickolas Mendesh, MD passed away peacefully at age 92 with his two daughters by his side in Louisville, Colorado. Anthony was born to Matt and Ruza Mendesh on January 2, 1931 in Duluth, MN. He attended University Minnesota Duluth , where he proudly played goalie for the UMD Bulldogs hockey team. He then transferred to North Dakota State University Fargo where he received his Pharmacy Degree. He continued working as a pharmacist as he pursued his Medical Degree at Creighton University School of Medicine. After completing medical school, he returned to Duluth where he worked as a Family Practice Physician. Anthony loved being a doctor and he worked very hard. He often put in long hours, delivering babies and making numerous “house calls”, all while being a supportive husband to his wife Kathryn and wonderful father to their three children Jeanmarie, Patricia, and Anthony Jr. In 1981 the family relocated to Santa Barbara, CA where he continued his work in Family Medicine at the Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic now known as Samsum Clinic. He then also went on to become board-certified in Geriatrics.Anthony will be fondly remembered as a devoted husband and loving father that always wanted the best for his family. He had the biggest heart which, among many other wonderful traits, made him an excellent doctor. He truly cared about all of his patients. He had a great sense of humor, was very outgoing, and made friends with everyone he met. Anthony was a man of faith, had a strong will, and kept a positive outlook on life, even until his last days. Survivors include his daughters Jeanmarie (Robert Portmann) and Patricia, a daughter-in-law Kelly (Stout) Mendesh, granddaughter Lucy Mendesh, and sister Mildred (William Call). He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years Kathryn (Thebarge) in 2019 and son Anthony Jr. in 2016. A rosary will occur at 6PM Friday June 16 at our Lady of Mt Carmel Church. A funeral mass will be held June 17, 2023 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Montecito, CA.Memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the University of Iowa SteadFamily Children’s Hospital.
