Joseph H. Sack ’68

Joseph H. Sack ’68, M.D., died on April 30 from complications of a brain tumor at home in Laconia, New Hampshire, surrounded by family. He was born November 19, 1946, in Pittsburgh and graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School. At Dartmouth he raced on the ski team before entering an undergraduate medical school program at Johns Hopkins, where he earned his B.S., M.D., and M.Sc. In Baltimore Joe met his future wife, Diana Grace. He did his psychiatric residency at Henry Phipps Psychiatric Institute, followed by three years as an Army psychiatrist at Fort Richardson, Alaska. Joe and Diana settled in Laconia, where their two sons were born. Joe served as medical director at Lakes Region Mental Health Center, staff psychiatrist at Lakes Region General Hospital, and visiting faculty in psychiatry at Dartmouth Medical School. He also had a solo private practice. Joe was diagnosed with a brain tumor (glioblastoma) during the Covid pandemic and, despite a life expectancy of 13 months, prevailed for four and a half years through surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and therapy. Joe was determined to do a good job with dedication and intensity, which is how he approached medicine, skiing, and photography. He skied around New Hampshire and the world, telemarking for more than 50 years. He skied three weeks before entering hospice. Joe is survived by Diana, sons William and Guy and their partners, and four grandchildren.