Dr. Charles "Rusty" Reese

Reese, Charles E., MD
Charles E. Reese, age 68, of Gibsonia, on October 11, 2023. Born in Wilkes Barre, PA on December 12, 1954, he grew up in Sinking Spring, PA, and was the son of the late Charles B. Reese and Rosemary Laughlin Reese. Beloved husband for 39 years of M. Catherine Peters. Cherished brother-in-law of Laura Burdett (Jerry), Mark Petrarca (Caterina), Joan Grassucci (Carlo), Donald Peters (Stella French), Linda Armitage (David), and Sandra Peters (Norman Arkoff). Also survived by 8 favorite nieces and nephews. Affectionately known as "Rusty" by family, friends and colleagues, he was a 1976 Summa Cum Laude graduate of Albright College in Reading, PA and a 1980 graduate with honors of the Penn State College of Medicine at the Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at UPMC Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh - where he was a Chief Medical Resident in his last year - and a fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of California San Francisco. Rusty returned to Pittsburgh and accepted a faculty teaching position with (now) (UPMC) Mercy Medical Center in 1990. He subsequently served as Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine from 1997-2006, Assistant and Associate Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, and from 1995 until his retirement, Director of Ambulatory Medical Services, UPMC Mercy Health Center. Rusty's professional passion was the Ambulatory Care setting, and he relished his role training the Ambulatory Internal Medicine residents. He was a trusted and respected educator who was often sought out to write letters of recommendation for house staff applying for fellowships. In 2014, he was recognized by the University of Pittsburgh for "Excellence in Clinical Precepting: for outstanding achievement in educating future physicians". Rusty was also an astute and dedicated physician to the Health Center's patients, relating compassionately and kindly to all under his care. To the staff he worked with, he was loyal, collaborative and imperturbable with an always accessible ear to listen to requests or issues and respond with the thoughtful advice he loved to give. Rusty was active on multiple clinical committees during his tenure at UPMC Mercy including : Residency Program Clinical Competency, Medicine Department Quality Improvement, Clinical Systems Steering Committee, Medical Executive Committee and Chairman of both the Ambulatory Quality Improvement Committee and the Health Information Management Committee. He was awarded the Department of Medicine Award for Meritorious Service " for the development of special services, innovations in patient care or research, excellence in teaching or distinctive service to the community." Personally, as an only child, Rusty was most touched that his inherited 6 brothers and sisters considered him as the bonus 7th sibling - with the hands down best handwriting and artistic talent in the family. To his friends and family, he was universally kind, insightful and gracious - most happy hosting everyone on holidays and milestone events. He loved playing the piano (especially Gershwin and Billy Joel), listening to music (Broadway show scores), reading (The Lord of the Rings trilogy was a favorite) and adopting the latest technical innovations. To his wife, Cathy, he was "good and kind and true" - eternally curious, he exhaustively researched the next "best" addition to home/hearth, work or personal growth. He had an annoyingly keen eye for selecting the exact right color, shape or design of everything from art to couch placement. He loved a good surprise, a good laugh, choosing just the right gift, offering reliably sound assessments and doing favorite activities together. When Rusty retired in 2016, his retirement plaque from the UPMC Department of Medicine recognized him for "25 years of Excellence" "In sincere gratitude for the compassion, guidance, and outstanding leadership you've provided to all of us." To his friends and family, his unfailingly cheerful, smart, kind, creative and generous soul will be sorely missed by all of us as well. Honoring Rusty's wishes, a memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Kidney Foundation or American Diabetes Association. Arrangements by Schellhaas Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Ltd., Bakerstown. www.schellhaasfh.com.