Joseph K. Link, 85, medical school faculty member

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday in Christ the King Catholic Church, Snyder, for Joseph K. Link, 85, a pediatrician who served as a faculty member in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Link, who was a pediatric consultant for chronic-disease research at UB, died April 12 in his Snyder home after a lengthy illness.

In addition to conducting a private practice, Link was chief pediatrician at Sisters Hospital, where he also was president of the staff in 1967-68. He retired 12 years ago.

Link, who received his medical degree from Marquette University, served in the Army for two years in the Pacific and in the Philippines during World War II.

Throughout his career, Link worked extensively with disabled children. He was physician-in-charge at the Erie County Health Facility for Children and School 84, and the new School 84 was dedicated in his honor. He was clinic medical director for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Western New York at the former E.J. Meyer Memorial Hospital and at WCA Hospital in Jamestown. The Muscular Dystrophy Association presents an annual medical award in his name.

Link conducted research on cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, including clinical tests on several drugs for treatment of the diseases.

He was chair of the Western New York chapters of the Cerebral Palsy Association and the Muscular Dystrophy Association and for several years was chair of the New York State Cerebral Palsy Advisory Board. He was a member of the board of directors of Special Help for Special Children and the medical advisory committee for the March of Dimes.