Tribute by Dr. Manuel Cassiano Neves, EPOS Past President
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Dr. José de Mesquita Montes on August 26, 2026, one of the founding members of EPOS.
He was 90 years old. A man of unbounded wit and charm, Dr. Mesquita Montes possessed a warmth of character and a genuine care for others that deeply endeared him to his patients, colleagues, friends, and family alike. Born in 1936 in Fontelas, in the Douro Valley, his life was shaped by three enduring passions: the education and practice of paediatric orthopaedics, literature and his deep connection to the vineyards of the Douro.
He graduated from Porto Medical School and, in 1957, began his lifelong journey in orthopaedics by joining the Orthopedic Department at S. João Hospital, Porto Medical School. One year later, together with Dr. Corte Real, he helped establish the Orthopedic Department at Children’s Hospital Maria Pia, the first paediatric orthopaedic department in Portugal.
Dr. Mesquita Montes was universally admired for placing the personal and human dimensions of patient care at the heart of his practice. He was equally committed to sharing his knowledge and experience with younger generations of physicians, helping to shape the future of paediatric orthopaedics. His dedication to the knowledge of DDH and cerebral palsy inspired a generation of orthopaedic surgeons. From 1993 onward, he was the driving force behind the “Portuguese BAT,” an initiative that helped countless surgeons deepen and improve their knowledge in the field. From 1989 to 2003, he served as President of the Medical Council of Orthopedic Surgeons, and in 2004 he was appointed President of the Portuguese Orthopedic Society.
But his vision extended far beyond Portugal. In 1980, he took part in the meeting that marked the founding of EPOS, together with Henri Bensahel, Jürg Baumann, and Dietrich Tönnis, helping to lay the foundations of our Society. He remained an active and devoted member of EPOS and was instrumental in the organization of the memorable 13th Annual Meeting, held in Espinho, Porto, where EPOS surpassed, for the first time, the milestone of 200 participants. In 2009, he was awarded the “Pro Maximus Meritus Award” in recognition of his outstanding contribution to education in paediatric orthopaedics.
But his legacy extends far beyond the positions he held and the institutions he helped build. Its deepest measure is found in the wisdom he generously shared, the colleagues he guided and mentored, and the generations of orthopaedists whose lives and careers he profoundly influenced. Above all, it lives on in the unwavering dedication he brought to paediatric orthopaedics – a dedication that inspired those around him and left an enduring mark on the field. His legacy is carried forward in the physicians he trained, the patients he served, and in all those who were fortunate enough to learn from his example.
Dr. Mesquita Montes will long be remembered for his immense love of family, his compassion, intelligence, wisdom, unassuming charm, and limitless generosity. To his wife, Teresa, a major pillar of his life and a source of strength and wisdom, and to his sons, José and Rui, we extend our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences at this profoundly sad time.
His memory will remain an enduring part of the history of EPOS and of paediatric orthopaedics, and his example will continue to inspire generations to come.