Geraldine S Meanor

Geraldine S. Meanor, MD (May 17, 1933-May 4, 2022)

Geraldine S. Meanor, MD passed away on May 4, 2022, ending a long, productive and well-lived life. She was an internist in Glen Ridge, New Jersey for almost 60 years. She was born May 17, 1933 in North Bergen, New Jersey as the youngest of three children of Ferdinand and Ida Strangio.

After attending Douglass College at Rutgers and graduating with a BS in 1954, she went on to receive her medical degree from MCP-Hahnemann College of Medicine in Philadelphia in 1958. Her grades were virtually always the highest in her class. In fact, she was valedictorian of her college class and salutatorian of her medical school class. She obtained her medical license in 1959 and completed her residency at Mountainside Hospital from 1958-1962. She remained affiliated with Mountainside Hospital for many years before retiring in 2018. She was a tremendous clinician and diagnostician. 

Dr. Meanor was an avid horsewoman who owned and rode American Saddlebred Horses. Over the years, she owned the World Grand Champion Three Gaited mare, Gift of Love and the four-time World Grand Champion Five Gaited gelding, Imperator. She and her first husband owned Finisterre Farm. In addition to Imperator and Gift of Love, she had many other champions and reserve champions, many of which she rode in shows all over the country. The highlight of the show season was always the World Grand Championships at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville, which she attended and participated in for many years.

She was married to the Hon. H. Curtis Meanor, the former state and federal judge. After a divorce, she married her second husband, William H. Franke, Jr, a former Marine and Korean War veteran. Both gentlemen predeceased her. She was also predeceased by her siblings, John Strangio, formerly of Mountain View, California and Marie Strangio Clemente, formerly of Glen Ridge, New Jersey. She is survived by eight of her nephews and nieces and their families, as well as many great-nephews, great-nieces and the next generation of great-greats. She was actively involved in their lives as a mentor who guided, mediated and advocated as the voice of reason within the family while staunchly defending all family members from the outside.

Dr. Meanor was a member of the American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, the Medical Society of New Jersey as well as a member of numerous honorary medical societies such as Alpha Omega Alpha.

Always learning, she was an avid reader. She always had a soft spot for animals of all sorts, including her pet dogs and cats, especially Labrador Rretrievers.

Private arrangements have been made.

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