Gerald Joseph Meesey

Dr. Gerald J. Meesey, one of the kindest souls one could ever meet, passed away Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, surrounded by his family and loved ones, including the love of his life and very best friend, Jane. He lived to be 90 years old and had many passions, many of which he shared with his three children.

He had a deep love for scuba diving, often taking trips with his son to Key West and the Caribbean. He was also an avid aviator, having earned his private pilot’s license. Dr. Meesey was a voracious reader, interested in histories, biographies and scientific non-fiction. Later in life, he found audiobooks and expressed immense gratitude for the hundreds of books he listened to, thanks to the Colorado Talking Book Library.

With a knack for fixing anything, from broken air conditioners to vintage 1960s Volkswagens, Dr. Meesey was a master of his craft. And his patience was simply unmatched.

On the racquetball court, he was a fierce competitor, giving his sons a real workout.

Dr. Meesey’s military service took him to England, where he served as a firefighter. After his service, he pursued higher education in southeast Missouri, where he met his beloved “Janey.” They married after just six months of dating. Thanks to the G.I. Bill, Dr. Meesey graduated with a PhD in audiology and speech pathology, a degree that played a crucial role in the success of his small business.

In the 1980s, Dr. Meesey embarked on a new venture, establishing his own business focused on occupational hearing safety and testing, as mandated by OSHA. He often embraced new technology, attributing his company’s success to the assistance of the TRS-80, one of the first mass-market desktop computers.

He lived in St. Louis, Missouri, for many years before relocating to Colorado in 2017.

Dr. Meesey, renowned for his humor and cheerful demeanor, was a master of dad jokes long before they were popular. One of his favorite jokes was, “When is a door not a door?” (When it’s “ajar!” Groan!). He passed on his unique sense of humor to his children, and his grandchildren benefitted from many a knock-knock joke. He deserves credit for making the harmonica pleasant to listen to. He often gave them as presents to friends and family. In fact, it would be hard not to think of Dr. Meesey when one hears a harmonica trill.

His family meant everything to him. He set a perfect example of humility and generosity, and it’s a happy coincidence that this audiologist was one of the best listeners around, from philosophical discussions with his peers to the animated chatter of his grandchildren.

Those who knew him loved him, and when they saw Jerry and Jane together, they understood they were in the presence of true love.

Born in St. Louis in 1935, Dr. Meesey is survived by his wife of over 64 years, Jane; their daughter Jennifer (Jeff); their sons Scott (Jill) and Jeff (Jennifer); six grandchildren (Jade, Nora, Jake, Auguson, Elijah & Jade); and their beloved grandpets: cats Nala, Gabby, Flerken and Virgil; and dogs Tule, Ace, Scout and Ollie.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to PBS, NPR, Colorado Public Radio or a local pet shelter or animal rescue organization of your choice.