Dr. Max Thaler of Parishville New York

Dr. Max Thaler (in white) and ? in front of the Flushing Hospital, 1948










My father, Dr. Max Thaler, was a man small in stature, great in soul. He was a small town doctor, a general practitioner, though he could have been a big city neurologist had he so chosen. He was a holocaust survivor, a devout Jew in a secular family, a man who slept little, the phone ringing at all hours, a doctor who always made house calls, even as making housecalls began to grow out of style. He was born in Magierov, Poland, on March 28, 1909 and died in his beloved Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam New York, on September 9, 1989. In the small northern New York hamlet of Parishville, he is still remembered. I never go back to visit without hearing at least one story of someone whose life my father saved.

by Joan Dobbie
September 2006


With grandson Andy Dobbie, 1978









An exhibit at Potsdam Museum opened May 2, 2010

Dr. Max Thaler of Parishville is shown here on Catherine Street standing next to Era Converse on his horse drawn manure wagon. Dr. Thaler was born in Poland to poor Jewish parents. He completed his medical training in Vienna, Austria where he met his wife Angela Brill Thaler. He and Angela fled to Switzerland to avoid persecution during WWII. The couple moved to the NYC in 1948 where Max completed his residency requirements and became licensed in NY State. They came to Parishville in 1950 where Max practiced as a "cradle to grave" doctor.

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Memories of Dr. Max Thaler

by Chris Caringi of Parishville, New York

We were so blessed to have Dr. Max Thaler choose
Parishville as his home. His medical ability was
phenominal, but the real comfort for his many
patients came from his caring, compassion and
dedication. Growing up, we felt peaceful and safe,
partly because, if we had medical problems, we knew
our doctor was there. Dr. Thaler always had time to
talk, share his stories, and make even the smallest
child feel important and special. We never had a fear
of going to the office. The entire town would know
when he was worried about a certain patient because he
would be seen slowly walking by in deep concentration.


The always open door of the Thaler home welcomed
every child in the town.The house was always full, and
a special warmth and welcome was extended to everyone.
I have so many wonderful memories: chess games with
the giant floor game; table tennis in the huge
upstairs room; looking out the window at the Potsdam
synagogue picnics; swimming and swinging in the back
yard, taking boat rides with Dr. Thaler and his
family. Max Thaler’s love of nature and the peace of
those river boat rides were a lesson in appreciation
to all of us. For so many children, the Thaler’s
homestead provided an escape from possibly unhappy
homes, or daily problems.

Max Thaler was a quiet man who made an incredible
contribution to our community. I was always aware of
how fortunate we were to have him and what a
difference he made in our community. Sick calls were
answered regardless of the time of day or night. If we
needed our doctor, Max Thaler would be there. When a
baby wanted to enter the world in the middle of the
night, Max Thaler was on duty to welcome them. My
children were able to know their grandfather because
of the knowledge and ability of Dr. Max Thaler.

I will never forget having my daughter, Susie, in
Watertown and Dr. Brown asking about our family doctor
and expressing his awe at the ability Max Thaler had
to be able to practice family medicine and do such a
fantastic job caring for people of all ages. “Realize
how lucky you are,” he said. “And hang on to this
doctor; he is a blessing.”

When a friend with a heart problem traveled to
Montreal, Canada, to see a
cardiologist, the doctor asked him, "Why would you
travel so far from Potsdam when you have Max
Thaler less than 10 miles from you?" After my
neighbor's car accident, she remembered his healing
hug. His medical care was strengthened so much by his
caring.

I now realize that we also owe a deep gratitude to
his family. I know they made great personal
adjustments to allow him to spend so many hours taking
care of his patients. I extend to all of the family
our love and appreciation for sharing this man and
letting him practice medicine and save so many people.

Dr. Thaler was proof that one man can make a
difference. His intelligence, talent and loving nature
is reflected in the family he gave to us. That
family now is located in so many areas, but the
warmth and love has never changed. The second we see
any of them, the time apart fades away and we are, as
we always were, in a warm family circle.

We have a much better community because we had Dr.
Max Thaler, for so many years, to serve and care for
us.