William Joseph Beckmeyer MD

I went to him from April `67 until I was 17yrs old. He was an amazing physician. After becoming a nurse , I was in the operating room and I heard a voice so much like his that I quickly turned around because I thought for sure it was him but no.... It was his son !! His son was an Anesthesiologist and I asked him if he was related to a Dr Beckmeyer " the Pediatrician " and that´s when I found out they were related. :). He will surely be missed by many . My condolences to the family. Lisa Gabelman Caldwell

When I was at St. Luke Hospital. I had just delivered our first child. November 1970. I was not from Ft. Thomas but was told by many that he was the best pediatrician around and to list him as our pediatrician. I did and what a great choice. 30 years of him treating our 5 children. And saving the life of one of them.
I will forever be grateful and remember him with the greatest admiration.
So blessed to have known the gentle and no nonsense giant.

My name is Richard cooper I was born April 1970.in just a few days or so he's is the one caught I was allergic to milk I was a sick kid as I got older he would hide the needle in his pocket lol then bam!! I did two three times a week getting an allergy shot for years .I went to see Dr beckmeyer from birth till i was 21 sitting in those little chairs lol I can still hear his deep voice Richard i think you get go to a primary dr now.i was like no no no dr beckmeyer but as you can guess I went to Dr Gary Seward for primary.he always knew me whenever I seen him long after he retired.he would smile ask me how my mom was doing ..in my mind he is the picture of how a Dr should be i have the most respect and love for dr beckmeyer he saved my life many times .you will be missed Dr Beckmeyer. Sincerely Richard cooper

William Peter Beckmeyer, MD

I am writing to you regarding the recent loss of your father, William Joseph Beckmeyer, MD as noted in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

I was born in 1930 (December) as was your dad (May); we possibly graduated from medical school the same year - 1956.

The article mentioned that your dad interned at Detroit Receiving Hospital; I also interned there during the years 1956 - 1957.

I do not recall your dad´s name as an intern so we may or not have served together; there were so many interns and the place
was so chaotic that we indeed may or not have met.

Do you recall any descriptions your dad made of what that internship was like in those days? At Receiving, interns worked on in-patient wards during the day and spent most nights handling huge emergency room overflows - thus we spent 36 hours on and 12 hours off; the only topic of conversation was sleep deprivation. The ER handled 80% of all the Detroit medical emergencies; it had its own jail lockup.

I contacted Receiving Hospital several times over the years seeking the names of my intern group in the hopes of a possible re-union but I couldn´t get any help. After our year of service, interns were given small gold fobs for watch chains (see photos below),

I practiced dermatology (mostly Mohs Surgery) in Cincinnati for 58 years. I never met your dad but feel certain that after his Receiving history, he could handle almost any situation.

Please accept my statement of condolence for your loss and my best wishes.

Dick Moraites


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Dr Beckmeyer was my doctor from birth 1969 until I was 18 and then in 1994 I took my daughter there until he retired which didn´t seem too long after. I can still remember being little and he always scared me walking in so tall and slender. He would put you across his knees to give you shots. Back then the nurses didn´t do that but the docs did. He was always brutally and lovingly honest. When I took my newborn daughter there the first thing he did when he walked in was give me a kiss on the forehead and congratulate me. He still remembered me after all those years. I have thought of him often. An amazing doctor who watched me grow up and have my own daughter. Rest in peace Dr Beckmeyer. There will never be a better pediatrician than you.

Dr Beckmeyer was my children´s dr when we lived in Alexandria. He would often take a look at me and get out his prescription pad and say Mom I think you could use a little help with what ever was ailing me. He was always so kind. To my girls. One time he even treated me for a horrible skin rash. He got out one of his thick books and said I was allergic to sun screen. I still to this day have to be careful not to get anything with PABA in it. RIP DR Beckmeyer. Sorry for your loss