Rene Meza
June 1, 1939 ~ March 20, 2022
Rene Sandoval Meza, M.D.
June 1, 1939 - March 20, 2022
Born into a farming family with coffee plantations in Santa Ana, El Salvador. A son of Carlos Meza and Blanca Sandoval de Meza, he had aspirations to attend medical school and did so overseas at the Complutense University of Madrid in Spain. He immersed himself in studies and made lasting friendships that would allow him to excel in medical school and take needed study breaks and Holidays with friends and family in Spain and Europe. He was an intelligent and talented student and would become a gifted and compassionate surgeon and doctor. He was a practicing surgeon in San Salvador, El Salvador following his graduation and residency training serving in both the private and government sectors.
In 1981, he made the difficult and courageous decision to leave war torn El Salvador and moved to the United States of America. Along with his loving wife, Rosa Eugenia Ortiz de Meza, their broken English and desire to prosper and succeed, they began their pursuit of the American Dream. He once again studied hard and passed the National and State Medical Licensure Exams to allow him to work in hospitals in both Maryland and Virginia and thereafter open his own private practice in Internal and Family Medicine in Falls Church, Virginia. He eventually moved his practice to Arlington, Virginia and affiliated with then Arlington Hospital, now Virginia Hospital Center, where he gained the trust and camaraderie of his fellow physician colleagues throughout his career and until his retirement in 2007.
He was cherished by his friends and patients as he built a strong reputation especially within the Hispanic Community in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. He touched and saved many lives during his professional career and never stopped being a physician; it was part of his essence. Even in his retirement during a brief period as a patient himself in an assisted living facility, saved the life of a Pastor that shared a room with him. He also continued to care for his still living mother-in-law by FaceTime in El Salvador along with the local nurses and doctors. He had the gift of offering both care and the peace of mind that always came naturally to him.
His gift to put you at ease carried on into his personal life as it extended to friends and family. He had a characteristic smile that would welcome you to celebrate life with him. He loved to travel with his mother, as she too was an avid traveler of the world, with his wife, friends, and family. He spent many wonderful years in Spain in Tossa de Mar and Oropesa de Mar during retirement as he lived there part time and invited friends and family to stay. He was always drawn to the water and loved fishing and late afternoon swims on the beach. He had a great palate for fine wine and was eager to share a glass with you and teach about it. He needed no excuse to find a time to celebrate with friends and family. He was a loving husband to Rosa Eugenia, a loving father to three sons Rene Federico, Carlos Eduardo, Fernando Jose and one daughter, Maria Gabriela, a loving grandfather to Rosa Eugenia, Maria Jose, Maria Fernanda, Natalie Ariana and Fernando Joaquin, and a loving brother to his Luz Marina and Carlos Meza. His lasting memory and celebration of life will continue in the hearts of many for years to come. May he rest in Eternal Life.
June 1, 1939 - March 20, 2022
Born into a farming family with coffee plantations in Santa Ana, El Salvador. A son of Carlos Meza and Blanca Sandoval de Meza, he had aspirations to attend medical school and did so overseas at the Complutense University of Madrid in Spain. He immersed himself in studies and made lasting friendships that would allow him to excel in medical school and take needed study breaks and Holidays with friends and family in Spain and Europe. He was an intelligent and talented student and would become a gifted and compassionate surgeon and doctor. He was a practicing surgeon in San Salvador, El Salvador following his graduation and residency training serving in both the private and government sectors.
In 1981, he made the difficult and courageous decision to leave war torn El Salvador and moved to the United States of America. Along with his loving wife, Rosa Eugenia Ortiz de Meza, their broken English and desire to prosper and succeed, they began their pursuit of the American Dream. He once again studied hard and passed the National and State Medical Licensure Exams to allow him to work in hospitals in both Maryland and Virginia and thereafter open his own private practice in Internal and Family Medicine in Falls Church, Virginia. He eventually moved his practice to Arlington, Virginia and affiliated with then Arlington Hospital, now Virginia Hospital Center, where he gained the trust and camaraderie of his fellow physician colleagues throughout his career and until his retirement in 2007.
He was cherished by his friends and patients as he built a strong reputation especially within the Hispanic Community in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. He touched and saved many lives during his professional career and never stopped being a physician; it was part of his essence. Even in his retirement during a brief period as a patient himself in an assisted living facility, saved the life of a Pastor that shared a room with him. He also continued to care for his still living mother-in-law by FaceTime in El Salvador along with the local nurses and doctors. He had the gift of offering both care and the peace of mind that always came naturally to him.
His gift to put you at ease carried on into his personal life as it extended to friends and family. He had a characteristic smile that would welcome you to celebrate life with him. He loved to travel with his mother, as she too was an avid traveler of the world, with his wife, friends, and family. He spent many wonderful years in Spain in Tossa de Mar and Oropesa de Mar during retirement as he lived there part time and invited friends and family to stay. He was always drawn to the water and loved fishing and late afternoon swims on the beach. He had a great palate for fine wine and was eager to share a glass with you and teach about it. He needed no excuse to find a time to celebrate with friends and family. He was a loving husband to Rosa Eugenia, a loving father to three sons Rene Federico, Carlos Eduardo, Fernando Jose and one daughter, Maria Gabriela, a loving grandfather to Rosa Eugenia, Maria Jose, Maria Fernanda, Natalie Ariana and Fernando Joaquin, and a loving brother to his Luz Marina and Carlos Meza. His lasting memory and celebration of life will continue in the hearts of many for years to come. May he rest in Eternal Life.
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He was and he will always be a Great Doctor An Amazing and loving Abuelo. Abuelo Rene, my only grandfather. Abuelo Rene even to this day I would call him and he would still at this age know al these medical term to this age for me that was WOW. I will cherish all those phone calls and all those memories. Thanksgiving, going to Virginian when I was little. Christmas with him in El Salvador. Abuelo Rene you were my only Grandfather. Loving, caring with great advice. Because of you I want to go into the Medical field I’m not sure what I’m going to be, but I will be something in medicine. I will proudly wear and show my Meza name. Safe travel to heaven ❤️?❤️ -Rosa Meza-
Que Dios lo tenga en su gloria Doctor. Ser recordado siempre con mucho carino.
I’ll miss his taste for adventure and sweet nature.
Just as his obituary describes, one of my lasting memories of Dr. Meza was his always beaming smile and his energy on the GMU Israel-Jordan trip. He and my Tia Tere climbed into a Bedouin carriage to make the trek to Petra, and the speed that horse galloped made me say a little prayer. By the time the rest of us hikers arrived, they had been laughing and enjoying the sites. Thank you for the joy you exuded, Dr. Meza!
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Hi Abuelo Rene! How are you? I know it up there drinking wine and eating cheese. So many memories and even though I don’t remember them when I was a baby and much younger, I know you do. You did give me memories of the Children’s Museum and your house. Thank you for taking responsibility of my dad when he was young not a lot of fathers do that and because of the letters- the proof- that gave us a life in the USA, residency and soon citizenship. I always wanted to move to VA to be with the family and in a couple of years I will. You are a very smart, intelligent, strong man and I love bringing about you to my friends, and at work. Medicine, you introduce me to it and I want to do something in that field. The fact you remember every detail of human anatomy and medical terms in your 80’s is amazing. I mean not a lot of people have that ability. That’s how my da got his intelligence. And look at all your children, my dad, my aunt, and my uncles. It amazing the legacy you left, and still is leaving for generations to come. I proudly wear the Meza name ever since I was a teenager! Well Abuelo Rene I’ll see you soon, maybe in 50 more years. And don’t worry I’ll still be talking to you from down here. Love you.
Hermano, a pesar que vivimos la mayor parte de nuestras vidas lejos, te voy extrañar mucho. Que Dios y la Virgen te hayan dado una gran bienvenida!
A candle was lit for the decedent.
A candle was lit for the decedent.