Resident of Monte Sereno What a life! It could not have turned out better had he planned it! A medical administrator, researcher and author, a beloved pediatrician, world traveler, lover of good food and music, religious person, but, most importantly, husband of the love of his life, Olga (Antignani) and father to his beautiful beloved children, Elisa (Michael Starble), Linda (Philip Daigneault), Carla and Roberta. And now for the particulars; born in New York City along with his brother, Michael, he spent his adolescence in CT, where he graduated from Fairfield University and attended Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, NB.
After his first 2 years there, he married his wonderful wife of 56 years until she passed in 2016. However, it was a life with her filled with excitement, adventures (and misadventures) but especially, love! From the rapid arrival of 3 children to a Yale University affiliated Internal Medicine residency to serving in the U.S.A.F. during the early part of the Vietnam War to a Pediatric residency in Philadelphia. What a whirlwind!
However these two lovers appreciated it greatly! After completion of his residency in Philadelphia, he took a position with The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) in Santa Clara, CA on the advice of their lifelong friends, Claudia and Dr. John Mann. Child number 4 showed up during this time. With extra training at Stanford University, he became Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at his hospital. After a short period, he and another physician were chosen to start a new clinic and hospital for Kaiser Permanente in San Jose, CA(1974).
Later, he became President of the Santa Clara County Medical Association and was sent to the Stanford School of Business Executive Program. He helped to plan, grow, and run this facility from 5 original physicians to 175 physicians in all medical specialties until 16 years later when he left medical administration to practice his first love of pediatrics until he retired from TPMG in 1997. Following this career, he became Chief Medical Officer for CMRI, the Federal company that oversaw Medicare quality for the State of California and became Vice-President of the American Health Quality Association based in Washington, DC. After seven years in that role, he decided to fully retire but only to give back to society. After additional training he became a Long Term Care Ombudsman for CA based in Santa Clara Co. He spent 15 years ensuring that the residents of nursing homes received good quality medical care at the same time as doing volunteer laser removal of tattoos from reformed ex-gang members in San Jose and Los Angeles.
To repeat, what a life! He often thanked the Good Lord for being with him on this journey throughout the good and difficult times! He was extremely grateful for the love and support shown by his children, his 11 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren, with another one on the way, as well as his special friends and by Billie Jean Sgarlato, his companion and partner for the years before his passing. He was also grateful to the many TPMG physicians and staff with whom he worked in his career and who helped care for his many medical problems at the end of his life.
A private celebration of life will be held by his daughters.