Vision-impaired doctor supports those dealing with blindness

"A good doctor," she replies.

At 85, Dr. Pesnel may be retired from practicing medicine, but a recent lifetime achievement award from the Capital District Senior Issues Forum proves that he's far from idle.

The parishioners of St. Thomas parish in Delmar, who recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary, keep up a whirlwind of volunteer activities while also finding time for their two children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Career choice

"Medicine was the big one," he said of his youthful interests. While he joked that he wanted to run a subway in New York as a child, Dr. Pesnel realized in high school that he wanted to pursue medicine as a career. However, it took a while for him to decide on a specialty.

"A doctor was a doctor as far as I was concerned," he remarked, adding that he marvels at today's young people, many of whom seem to choose a specific field before even experiencing it.

Working with kids

At first, the young doctor was shocked to see infants with such extensive disabilities.

"But I got over that because somebody has to take care of them," he said. "They're human beings. We cured some; we lost some; we began to open some up for adoption."

War years

The couple wed the day after Christmas, hoping to have some time together before Dr. Pesnel was called to serve in World War II. But he went to Europe not long after D-Day. He treated wounded soldiers at St. Lo, Aachen and Cologne, and even created a displaced-person camp for nearly 8,000 refugees.

After the war, the doctor returned to Albany Medical Center's pediatrics department, as well as serving at St. Margaret's, running his own private practice and working at clinics without pay. (One of these was the pediatric wing of Brady Maternity Hospital in Albany, now the diocesan Pastoral Center.)

In his "spare time," he served on the boards of diocesan Catholic Charities and Inter-County Home Care, became pro bono medical director for the Easter Seal Society, and spoke to professionals at Catholic Charities agencies about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He later taught at Albany Medical College and became chief of pediatrics at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, responsible for a 42-bed ward, a nursery for premature infants, a clinic, and an annual batch of new interns and residents.

Busy life

He remarked that he wasn't sure how his students saw him: "I don't know whether they thought of me as a hard taskmaster, but I loved to teach!"

Dr. Pesnel also learned a few things along the way -- not the least of which was the secret of a marriage that has already lasted nearly six decades.

"You have to be darn sure when you marry that you're going to live by what you were taught: that you're faithful, that you're honest and that you love one another," he stated. "We still get along very well. We don't always agree 100 percent, but you have to look at both sides."

New focus

At first, realizing he would have to give up medicine, Dr. Pesnel despaired. But he made up his mind that he wouldn't let the disease defeat him and turned his attention to his doctor's suggestion: starting a support group for others with vision problems. For two years, he steeped himself in learning about macular degeneration. With the help of a closed-circuit television that greatly magnifies reading material and a magnifying glass made for hobbyists, he read everything he could find on the disease.

While doing so, he also took a position with the County Health Department where he didn't have to do direct patient care. He became a member of the Northeast Association for the Blind, the Kenwood Braille Association and other organizations.

Helping others

Dr. Pesnel noted that he always makes an agenda for the meetings but often doesn't need it: Newcomers have so many questions that the group spends most of its time in discussion. People want to know when they should stop driving, how to access devices to help them read and whether their children will inherit their disability.

"I also help people cope," said the doctor. "Ninety-five percent of those who come are despairing; they have clinical depression. I tell them what they should do, and one thing is to see a psychiatrist."

Dr. Pesnel still spends as many as five hours a day doing research on blindness and vision impairment. He is also a Eucharistic minister at his parish and spends a good portion of his time playing the violin for performances by the Capital Area Senior Orchestra.

"I can't drive, but I can still think," he commented.

He also boasted of his wife's accomplishments. Mrs. Pesnel is a fellow Eucharistic minister and parish volunteer, and she founded a companion program for local retired Daughters of Charity. The couple both do quality-assurance work for St. Peter's home care.

Active

Besides, he said, "You have to do something! I don't want to get Alzheimer's. I want to be stimulated and keep moving!"

As for his lifetime achievement award -- which came with a thick packet of congratulatory citations from the New York State Senate and Assembly, Albany County, and the Town of Bethlehem -- Dr. Pesnel just said he's "very pleased."

Ironically, he has helped select winners of the award for the past several years, but said, "I never considered myself a candidate."

(The Vision Impaired Seniors group meets on selected Fridays at Bethlehem Town Hall from 1-2 p.m. The group's next meetings are Jan. 25, Feb. 22 and March 22. For information, call 439-2422.)

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