Joaquin E. Mercado MD

at home.

Joaquin “Joaco,” a resident of Wilmette for 50 years, was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia on January 25, 1937 to Manuel and Virginia Mercado, nèe Aranibar. Newly married to Martha Irma Guzman, Joaquin left his homeland in 1964 in order to pursue further medical training in the United States, leaving behind his

beloved mother and younger sister, Martha Ligia (pre-deceased), as well as his maternal grandmother

and great-aunt. He began his medical career at Holy Family Hospital in Des Plaines, grateful to the

Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth for their assistance in settling in. Fortunate to secure training in

General Surgery and to benefit from wonderful mentors at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Joaquin

practiced medicine there and at Resurrection Hospital in Chicago until retirement at age 65, often

developing lasting relationships with patients even after they had healed. He was also proud to serve the

employees at S & C Electric Company as their company physician for more than a decade.

Joaquin’s formative years were heavily influenced by his mother, being the rock of their small family, and

the Brothers of La Salle who ran his school. Together they instilled in him a deep sense of responsibility

to others that merged perfectly with his generous heart.

An accomplished singer as well as opera enthusiast, Joaquin enjoyed sharing his love of music with

friends and family. No holiday gathering or party was complete without Joaquin’s guitar and arresting

tenor. He introduced his wife and children to the world, piling into the station wagon headed to

Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida; then to Europe along with several Bolivian families that became his

extended family.

Joaquin is survived by his wife, Martha, and their five children, Raul (Anya), Joaquin Jr. (Sandy), Pilar

(Christopher), Alex (Sally), and Silvia (Frank), ten loving grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews in

Bolivia and Virginia. His family is grateful to be left with countless memories, his method for making

mouth-watering pastries, and the lasting bonds formed with other Bolivian families known collectively

as the Bolivian Friendship Club.

Si te pones triste,

Piensa que en la noche embrujada estoy yo;

Que si se ha perdido mi canto en la sombra,

Perdurará en vos

If you’re gripped by sadness,

Just think, I’m there in the spellbinding night;

And, that if my song disappears in the shadows,

It lives on in you

Visitation will be held on February 3 from 4-8 pm at Wm. H. Scott Funeral Home, 1100 Greenleaf Ave,

Wilmette. Funeral Mass will be held at 12 pm on February 4 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1747 Lake Ave, Wilmette. Interment private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mercy Home for Boys and Girls

https://donate.mercyhome.org/page/11990/donate/