Dr. Bill Mesnard

Dr. William “Bill” James Mesnard, a trusted rheumatologist in central New Jersey, an avid arrowhead hunter and collector, died peacefully from a heart condition at his home in Califon, NJ, surrounded by his family on September 23, 2026. He was 73 years old.

Bill and his identical twin brother Bob were born on May 11, 1953, in Bryn Mawr, PA, to June and Howard Mesnard. He grew up in Devon, PA, and graduated high school from The Haverford School near Philadelphia in 1972. At Haverford, he co-created the team sport of Crosby, which uses a Frisbee on a lacrosse field, and co-founded its winning team, the Space Angels. He also co-founded Haverford’s acclaimed cooking Gourmet Club. While attending the University of Virginia, he helped spread the popularity of Crosby before earning his medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

For four decades, Bill practiced rheumatology in Millburn, NJ, Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, NJ, and at the Lyons VA Medical Center. Helping his many patients improve their quality of life was deeply satisfying and fulfilling to him. He retired from his medical practice in 2025.

Bill had a lifelong love of history and was always curious to learn more about the world around him. He especially enjoyed traveling with his family, including epic RV trips exploring North America’s national parks, where he could combine his appreciation for history, nature, and Native American sites. He was an avid arrowhead hunter and collector of Native American artifacts, serving for many years as president of the Indian Artifact Collectors Association of the North East. His appreciation for the outdoors was also reflected in his longtime memberships at the Ausable Club in the Adirondacks and the Mantoloking Yacht Club on the Jersey Shore, where he and his family enjoyed many cherished moments. Closer to home, he took great pleasure in overseeing the health and abundance of life in the streams and ponds on his property.

Above all, Bill loved people and had a remarkable ability to deeply connect with his patients and maintain friendships over decades. He stayed connected through regular visits, phone calls, care packages, and handwritten letters, always interested in what others were doing and eager to share a story, a discovery, or something he had recently learned. He will be remembered for his curiosity, humor, tender nature, and kindness, as well as his enthusiasm for sharing what he loved with others.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Ann Wayne Lucas, a veterinarian in New York City, whom he married in 1984; his three children, Molly (her husband Ryan McMartin), William Lucas “Luke”, and Ruthie (her husband Alex Pollara); two grandchildren, Elliott and Theo McMartin; his two brothers, Ron and Bob; and many nieces and nephews.