Obituary of Walter L. McConnell MD

Pushing his body with all his might in the diminished oxygen, with the summit of Mt. Everest in site, Dr. Walter McConnell became the oldest human being ever to reach 27,000 feet in March 1989. His accomplishment was celebrated in an interview on Good Morning America and commercials for Alka Seltzer Plus soon followed as this climber, runner, and world traveler was asked the inevitable question, “why do you do this?” It was his relentless pursuit of challenge that drove Walter McConnell to compete in nearly forty marathons and races across the world, engage in an endless number of bicycle trips and summit the highest peaks in Africa, Asia, Europe and both North and South America. This amazing emergency room doctor, athlete, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather died in Queensbury, New York on September 11, 2025.

Born in Dover, New Jersey on October 2, 1931, Walter Larue McConnell was educated at Bucknell University, and Jefferson Medical College where he received his M.D. He served during the Korean war in the United States Navy with the rank of Lieutenant. At Bucknell, he met his wife, Isabel Beers McConnell with whom he was happily married until her death on August 9, 2019. Isabel was his companion on his many journeys and gave him four children: Barbara McConnell Pope, of Bolton Landing, New York, Walter S McConnell of Alfred, New York, Dr. Jeffrey McConnell of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Wendy McConnell Whalen, of Pittsburgh. His children have produced seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, 1:00pm, at the Episcopal Church of St. Sacrement, 4879 Lake Shore Dr., Bolton Landing, NY.  A reception will follow the service.  

Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online condolences and guest book.