Joseph Laszlo

Joseph David Laszlo, M.D., 90, passed away peacefully on November 13, 2024, in Wall, New Jersey. Born and raised on Staten Island, New York, Joe was the first-born son of Susan Frankel Laszlo and Andrew Laszlo. Growing up, he enjoyed riding horses with his father, playing basketball and winning dance competitions in Manhattan before graduating from Curtis High School in 1950. After graduating from the State University of New York at Cobleskill with an Associate's degree in Applied Sciences, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Recruited into the Honor Guard in Washington, D.C., Joe was later deployed to Korea, where he spent 11 months on the line while advancing to the rank of Corporal before the war ended. Once home, he attended Michigan State University with the G.I. Bill before sailing to France with his lifelong friend Peter S. Vozeolas.
Life began anew in Europe, where Joe played basketball, became fluent in German and applied to the medical school of Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. Once enrolled, Joe and Peter shared a flat, attended classes, studied and completed their advanced education, in German, and obtained two degrees, an M.D. and a Ph.D. in medicine. Upon returning to the U.S., Dr. Laszlo completed a one-year rotating internship at Fitkin/Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, NJ. Afterward, inspired by John F. Kennedy's call to the young adults of America to join the newly formed U.S. Peace Corps, Joe was accepted to live and work as a doctor in Sokodé, Togo, a former French colony. For a year and a half, he treated villagers for tropical diseases in rugged conditions with few comforts or medical resources. After returning to the States again, he completed his residency at Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse University where he met an enchanting nursing student, Janet Aleda Geibel. Six months later, the couple married, completed their commitments in Syracuse and moved to New Jersey.
Dr. Laszlo began his private gynecology practice in Freehold, NJ, and also began a long, distinguished career at Jersey Shore Medical Center. For 45 years, he taught residents, one of his favorite parts of being a physician, operated, saw patients, worked in the clinics, and spent several years as Chief of the Department of OBGYN. He was awarded numerously and generously for his service, commitment and dedication to his profession and his residents. Always service-minded, he volunteered his medical expertise on the Nez Perce Indigenous American reservation in Washington State, and with Jan, participated in three medical missions to the Philippines with the Aloha Medical Mission.
Always a horseman, Dr. Laszlo inspired his family's interest, resulting in their enjoyment of foxhunting and trail riding. In 1980, Joe and Jan began renovating a property they bought in Wall, a 40+ year project known today as Hunters Run Farm. In 1982, they started a racehorse business, caring for thoroughbreds with rehabilitation needs, and began breeding a few thoroughbred mares of their own. Over the years, they owned a number of successful racers and became well-known NJ breeders and owners, thrilled to root for their horses at Monmouth Park and elsewhere. When Joe became inspired to live another part of his horse dreams, he acquired a team of Belgian draft horses, whom he successfully showed in driving competitions up and down the Northeast.
Dr. Laszlo is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jan, his daughters, Meika and Heather, his grandchildren, Noah, Nolan, and Maelle, a small army of in-laws, brothers, nieces, nephews and grands. On November 13, four days shy of his 91st birthday, he passed surrounded by his wife and children on the farm he and Jan built from the wilds of their imaginations, always a patriot, always a learner, a linguist, a lover of life and a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life on Hunters Run Farm on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for contributions to the Second Call Horse Rescue, PO Box 113, Helmetta, NJ 08828 or the Amedisys Foundation,
c/o Compassionate Care, 1130 Hooper Avenue, Tom's River, NJ 08753. Arrangements are under the care of Orender Family Hom for Funerals, Manasquan. To send condolences to the family please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.net