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04/18/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1
RE: The Passing of Tom Azzolini, DPM
From: Joe Boylan, DPM
Sadly, I report that on 4-15-2024, Tom Azzolini, DPM passed after battling recurrent lymphoma cancer. My deep condolences to his wife Helen and daughter Montana.
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Dr. Tom Azzolini |
I met Tom when we were students at NYCPM. I was in the Class of 1987 and he was in the Class of 1988. As a student, Tom had a very clear vision of getting the finest surgical training and then practicing where he could use his skills to their fullest extent. He graduated from NYCPM in 1988, then completed 2 years of residency training at Atlanta Hospital. In 1990, he began in private practice in...
Editor's note: Dr. Boylan's extended-length letter can be read here.
Other messages in this thread:
05/27/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1B
From: Gerald Peterson, DPM, Harold Glickman, DPM, Steven J Berlin, DPM
Many hours were spent together during the annual House of Delegates over the years discussing the business of the House and getting his perspective on the issues. His wisdom and insight was always invaluable to me, let alone his friendship. You will be missed my friend. RIP
Gerald Peterson, DPM
I can’t think of a more iconic figure on the Board of Trustees than Jack George. He had the leadership skills to transcend podiatric generations. Along with Arthur Helfand, DPM, Jack had a profound effect on my career as a podiatric physician.
Harold Glickman, DPM, Past President, APMA
I will miss Jack George. He was a fun guy to be with and he was a wonderful asset to our great profession. My condolences go out to Jack and his family.
Steven J Berlin, DPM
05/27/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1A
From: David Alper, DPM
For those of you that did not have the good fortune to know Dr. Jack George, he was more than just a past-president (1992) - he was a true force to be reckoned with, both within the House of Delegates and out in the medical community. His presence in the HOD was at the level of Drs. Kanat and Kaplan - when he spoke, the room got quiet and people listened as he helped drive our profession forward.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Jack committed himself to elevating and protecting the profession of podiatry, first in Massachusetts, and later on a national level. He was instrumental, through advocacy and legal action, in breaking through prejudice by organized medicine, ultimately convincing key hospitals in Worcester, MA to allow, for the first time, podiatrists to perform surgery on site, and qualified podiatrists to be included in Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Medicaid. He helped Lloyd Smith and me successfully sue our hospitals for privileges after his success in Worcester.
And he was a "King Maker" - Lloyd Smith, Mike King, myself and others became deeply involved in our state society and APMA because of being chosen and guided by Jack. He firmly believed in the need to ensure that leadership was in place. He was a dear friend to podiatry - and to me. I will miss his wisdom, his passion - and his presence in my life.
David Alper, DPM
05/07/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1B
RE: The Passing of Richard A. Buratti, DPM
I was one of the many 1st and 2nd year podiatric residents at the Southern California Podiatric Medical Center, which was an independent clinic and teaching institution where outside attending podiatrists and surgeons, including Richard Buratti, DPM, volunteered their time without pay to advance our profession by lecturing and teaching clinical skills and forefoot and rear-foot surgery, both in Los Angeles and at our two Mexico clinics in Tijuana and Mexicali that ran under the name of the Baja Crippled Children's Program.
In addition, Dr. Buratti would allow the residents to come to his office and shadow him with his patients, and also scrub in on his private patient cases as well. We considered him to be a very progressive surgeon during that period of time in the early 1980s. He looked at the foot from a biomechanical perspective and was an excellent teacher of mid-foot and rearfoot anatomical surgical dissection for procedures that were considered advanced at that time, including calcaneal osteotomies, peroneal tendon balancing, and cuboid osteotomies.
I am certain that I am not alone in saying that I enjoyed his teachings and I learned some of my surgical skills and clinical skills from him. He was a pleasure to have known, and to have worked with. He always had a calm and reassuring demeanor. To his wife Ilona who I have met many times, your husband was a fine man and a great teacher. To Dawn, and Ilona I send my condolences and best wishes.
Keith L. Gurnick, DPM, Los Angeles, CA
05/07/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1A
I am saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Richard Buratti. As a teenager, I worked as a nurse’s aide in the operating room at Van Nuys Community Hospital where Dr. Buratti performed and taught surgery. I have fond memories of Dr. Buratti who treated all with kindness and respect. My thoughts and prayers go out to Dawn and the entire Buratti family.
Ross E. Taubman, DPM
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Richard Buratti. I worked for Dr. Buratti in his Northridge office in the nineties. He was a wonderful teacher and mentor. He was passionate about podiatry and loved to teach and was incredibly methodical in his approach to surgery. I was fortunate enough to earn a ride on his Cessna where he flew us to Catalina Island for a burger. My condolences to his wife Ilona and his daughter, Dawn. He was an asset to the profession.
Randi Margolis, DPM, Delray Beach, FL
05/01/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1B
From: Marshall G. Solomon, DPM, Howard Dananberg, DPM
It is with great sadness that I learned of Michael Forman, DPM passing. He was a great mentor at OCPM in biomechanics and the College podiatry clinic. Truly a caring person and outstanding DPM. May his memory be a blessing.
Marshall G. Solomon, DPM
I was a 1975 graduate of OCPM and Dr. Forman was my first professor of biomechanics. My pursuit of this knowledge was based on the joy with which he presented. He will surely be missed.
Howard Dananberg, DPM
05/01/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1A
From: Mark H. Feldman, DPM, MS
Our loss of Dr. Michael Forman leaves our profession without an exemplary teacher, me without a lifelong friend and colleague, and our students with the loss of a dedicated professor. His White Coat is unlikely to be soon, if ever, filled. I knew him in 73-74 when I was privileged to be Co-Director of Surgery at then OCPM.
He made me feel welcome and helped me through the maze of my first teaching appointment. We became lifelong friends. That unholy illness has taken a wonderful man that I will deeply miss the remainder of my days. Rest well Michael, you are much loved.
Mark H. Feldman, DPM, MS, Pompano Beach, FL
04/30/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1C
From: Jack Ressler, DPM, Stephen Musser, DPM
I am saddened to read of the passing of Michael Forman. I was fortunate enough to be under his guidance in clinical rotations while attending OCPM in the early ‘80s. Michael was always helpful in his teachings and guidance and would do it in a way that he would never talk down to his students. For those of you that were fortunate enough to have him as a clinician, we learned so much about patient care. Who can forget the cool way he would open up a Coverlet bandage from the middle instead of the edge. My condolences to the Forman family.
Jack Ressler, DPM
My condolences to Dr. Forman's family. I had the privilege of being one of his students at OCPM back in the mid- to late eighties. I found him very knowledgeable and respectful. He even allowed me to shadow him on Saturday mornings at his office where he shared additional knowledge and wisdom. Thank you Dr. Forman. You will be missed.
Stephen Musser, DPM, Cleveland, OH
04/30/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1A
From: Gene Sherwood, DPM, Jeffrey M. Robbins, DPM
I had Dr. Forman as a teacher for biomechanics during my time at OCPM. He was a great teacher and able to convey the concepts, especially to new students. He had a wonderful personality and was easy to talk to... a great teacher.
Gene Sherwood, DPM (retired)
There are just some people who really make a difference in your life. Mike Forman was one of those people...first as my biomechanics instructor at OCPM where he brought a sense of humor and sparked curious minds to a difficult subject, then as a colleague and friend. He had a way to make you feel good about yourself in any situation.
He was always glad to see you and made sure you knew it. He was a leader, although I don’t think he saw himself as such. He just felt you needed to be involved and involved he was in education, post doctoral training, continuing medical education, and podiatry politics. I aspire to be like him.
Jeffrey M. Robbins, DPM, National Podiatric Medical Director, VA Central Office
04/30/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1B
From: Greg Caringi, DPM, Richard Jaffe, DPM
When I moved to Cleveland in 1976, I honestly didn't know that much about podiatry. It turned-out to be a good 4 years. There were many professors who left an imprint because of their special interests. Dr. Forman will always be remembered not for any one thing that he did well, but for everything he represented. He was smart, kind, and had a great sense of humor. He cared about his patients and his students. He made me want to succeed in this profession. He likely was the first podiatrist who was a positive role model for me and many others. RIP Mikie.
Greg Caringi, DPM, North Wales, PA
Mike Forman was a bright light during my days as a student at OCPM in the late '60s. Always optimistic and caring, he was just a few years older than the students. Yet, he radiated hope and encouragement for the future at a time when the school was in tremendous turmoil. His devotion to our profession was total.
I had the pleasure to meet with him and his lovely wife, Blanche, when they visited Israel a few years ago. It was great to see that his positive views continued throughout his life. Podiatry never had a better representative or supporter than Mike Forman and he will always be remembered by those who knew and loved him. RIP Mike.
Richard Jaffe, DPM
04/22/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1B
RE: Passing of Dr. Tom Azzolini (Joe Boylan, DPM)
I was a resident at St. Mary's Hospital at the Franciscan Health System Program when Dr. Azzolini first became our director. He was an asset to our program. With his wealth of surgical knowledge and his eagerness to teach us residents, he turned the program into a 3-year surgical program. We all benefitted from his medical and surgical knowledge.
I remember as residents sitting in the on-call room the night before cases. We all looked at the board to see who was operating the following morning. When Dr. Azzolini (we would call him AZZ), had a case, we would all jump to scrub in on his case. If there was no room to scrub, we would go just to watch him operate and teach us residents.
He opened his doors to us residents at the OR and his office. He was all about teaching and promoting the profession, in every way possible. He never turned any of us down and was always there with a helping hand. He will be missed by all his residents who went through the program. My condolences to his wife, daughter, and family.
Joseph Cione, DPM
04/22/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1A
The sadness of a loss such as this is unwavering, but with loss comes reflection. All of us who had the privilege to train under the guidance of Dr. Azzolini are better physicians, surgeons, spouses, sons/daughters, parents, and human beings because of his mentorship and what he expected from us each day. Strict but fair, kind but stern, demanding but understanding, tempered but funny, all characteristics of a true leader and one that completely resonated with me.
Simply put, you were prepared every day during residency without him ever telling you that you need to be prepared, that’s how he operated. His graduates are shining examples of the presence he had on all of us and for it, we are forever grateful, but deeply saddened that he is no longer here.
Jeffrey Baker, DPM, Chicago, IL
04/19/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1A
It was sad to read of Dr. Azzolini's passing. We met when I took a mini-residency at Doctors Hospital and Tom was a 2nd year resident. He spent an inordinate amount of time educating us on the way and why they do things at Doctors Hospital. He was a great teacher. That carried over to his being a residency director who turned-out well-trained podiatrists. Dr. Boylan said it best about Tom: A Podiatry Hall of Famer. This is a big loss to our profession. Rest in peace.
Chris Robertozzi, DPM, Newton, NJ
04/19/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1B
It is with a heavy heart I write to express my deepest condolences on the passing of Dr. Tom Azzolini, a remarkable and truly memorable figure in the medical community. Dr. Azzolini was not just a skilled surgeon but also a mentor, a colleague, and a friend to many, including me.
During my time as a resident at Atlanta Hospital, Tom served as one of my senior residents, and his impact on my professional life is immeasurable. His dedication to his craft was evident in every surgery he performed, his skill unmatched and his confidence unwavering. But beyond his surgical prowess, Tom was a gifted teacher, always willing to impart his knowledge and experience to those around him.
One of the qualities that truly set Tom apart was his sense of humor. He had a way of lightening the mood in the operating room with his witty remarks and infectious laughter. I can still hear him saying “bright lights and cold steel baby” as he entered the OR. The loss of Dr. Azzolini leaves a void in the medical community that cannot be filled. His legacy will live on, not only through the countless lives he touched as a podiatric surgeon, but also through the lessons he taught and the memories he created with those fortunate enough to have known him. May his spirit continue to inspire us all to strive for excellence in everything we do. With deepest sympathy,
Kevin Pearson, DPM
03/25/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1A
Allan Spencer DPM was a mentor of mine way back in the early 1970s when I was a student at OCPM. He laid a great foundation of podiatric biomechanics and lower extremity orthopedic knowledge that has been my foundation of the science, clinical, surgical knowledge, and skills. His son Scott carries on his professional legacy. May his memory be a blessing.
Marshall Solomon, DPM. OCPM Class 1973
A true professor and gentleman; even when some of the class of “75 called him “Stick Man”. RIP, He will be missed.
Aaron C. Olson, DPM
03/25/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1B
I had the pleasure of training under Dr. Spencer from 1981-1985 and still use everything he taught me. I could go to him anytime with any question and he would sit and help drive home biomechanics and fabrication of orthoses until I got it. My condolence to his son Scott who was a year or two behind me and now a professor at Kent....also a smart and wonderful man. I will carry Allan’s memory and teaching with me until it is my time to join him.
Martin T Girling, DPM, Class of 85
I am so sorry to learn of Dr. Allan Spencer’s passing. In my early days in podiatry sales with Pedinol, I was working with OCPM selling my products. Dr. Spencer was always so kind, supportive, and would always listen to my pitch! In later years, after his retirement, he would stop at my exhibit to say hello and chat. My condolences to Dr. Scott Spencer and his family.
Paula Pitts
03/22/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1B
I was very saddened to hear about the passing of Dr. Allan Spencer. He was a true gentleman, a great teacher, and I remember him fondly from my years at OCPM. I still use one of his lines “if a patient brings you a bag of shoes, you are never going to make them better.” RIP Dr. Spencer.
Jack Bondi, DPM
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Allan Spencer. He was my biomechanics professor and mentor at OCPM (class of 1980), and with his help and guidance, I was able to go on to a successful full-scope of biomechanics and surgery practice for 43 years. Dr. Spencer was a wonderful teacher and mentor and always had time to help and advise us during both class and in clinic. I will always think of him with admiration and fondness. He gave back to our profession, which is something we all should aspire to. He will be missed.
Irv Luftig, BSc, DPM
03/22/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1A
For those of us who trained under Allan Spencer, DPM, we are forever in his debt. He was a biomechanics guru from the 1960s through his retirement. He was always a gentleman and was generous with his knowledge and encouragement. I had the honor of not only being his student, but also his colleague when I taught with him at OCPM from 1980 – 1997. A quiet man, he nevertheless was passionate about podiatry and the role of pathomechanics and biomechanics. My deepest condolences to Scott Spencer, DPM and his entire family.
Jeffrey M. Robbins, DPM, Columbus, OH
Allan Spencer was one of my biomechanics professors at OCPM and instilled a love for its clinical application. I have only the fondest memories of him. RIP and my sincerest condolences to his family.
Howard Dananberg, DPM, Stowe, VT
So sorry to hear of the passing of Allan Spencer. He was definitely one of the best instructors at OCPM during my time there.
David Ehrlich, DPM - Class of 1969
02/07/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1A
It is with great sadness that I read of the passing of Dr. Vincent Muscarella. “Vinny” stood out as a classmate in so many ways. He was that rare combination of being a great student, while also being that classmate who always delivered on a fun experience.
While proficient in the martial arts, he also loved to dance the hustle to Donna Summers! I will forever remember his huge smile, as well as his patience when trying to teach me to dance the hustle! Yes, he will be missed by many. He passed way too soon.
Joan Oloff, DPM
01/04/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1 B
RE: The Passing of Terence B. Albright, DPM (Lloyd Smith, DPM)
I was a classmate (OCPM-75) of Terry and always saw him as a smart, ethical, and kind person. It was easy to know he would be a leader in podiatric medicine. My condolences to his family and friends. We clearly lost a good one.
Howard Dananberg, DPM
I was in school with Terry and he has always been a good friend. His service to our profession can't be measured. Will miss you my friend. RIP.
Jerry Peterson, DPM
01/04/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1 A
Tania, my daughters, and I were so sad to hear of Dr. Albright's passing. When the book on our specialty is written, he will be recorded and recognized as a quiet giant who was, in many ways, responsible for putting together an academic and research unit that is a world leader decades after its development. Rest in peace to a great and good man.
David G. Armstrong, DPM
Terry is a quite simply a podiatry icon. He leaves a legacy of intelligence, dedication, and a strong advocacy for podiatry. While a quiet thoughtful man, he displayed remarkable passion, and when he spoke, you listened. May his memory serve as a source of comfort and solace to his family and friends.
Jeffrey M. Robbins, DPM
01/03/2024
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1
RE: The Passing of Terence B. Albright, DPM
Terry Albright was more than a President of APMA, more than a Dean of the Scholl College, more than an outstanding podiatrist. He was a close friend, a cherished father, and a wonderful husband to Jan.
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Dr. Terence Albright |
Terry and I collaborated on many projects during our years at APMA and regionally. He was often quiet and seemingly reserved, but inside was a passionate and determined advocate for podiatry. My memories of Terry and his family will last forever. RIP my friend.
Lloyd Smith, DPM
12/20/2023
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1B
From: James Lucarelli, DPM
Richard Donela was a real gentleman and a wonderful podiatrist. I first met Rich when I was a resident in Boston. He would fly down from Vermont to do surgery with us at the West Roxbury VA Medical Center. When I finished my residency, he invited me to work with him and his wife, Barbara, in their Bennington, VT and North Adams, MA offices. He and Barbara were a truly dynamic duo. He would practice medicine and Barb would run the office. They did that for almost 45 years!
I learned so much from him both medically as well as how to run a practice. He was really one of those unsung heroes of our profession. He was an excellent caring practitioner who served and cared for his community, He will certainly be missed by his patients and by those of us who had the honor to know and work with him. My condolences to Barb, Eliza, and Nathaniel.
James Lucarelli, DPM, New Bedford, MA
12/20/2023
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1A
From: Ron Werter, DPM, John Parent, DPM
Rich and I were classmates at NYCPM. I think we became friends because we were the only two guys in the class who on Monday mornings had grease under our fingernails from working on our cars during the weekend. He will be missed
Ron Werter, DPM
Rich and Barbara became friends as we met at various conferences. It was always a pleasure to see them. They were so welcoming. Rest in peace my friend.
John Parent, DPM
10/24/2023
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1
RE: The Passing of Carmine R. DeSomma, DPM
Carmine R. DeSomma, DPM, 87, passed away on Oct 13, 2023. Dr. DeSomma graduated from the Illinois College of Podiatry.
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Dr. Carmine DeSomma |
He served in the Navy for four years during the Korean War as an electrician. He moved to California in 1961, where he opened the first podiatric office in Turlock. He also traveled to Los Banos once a week to take care of patients there and wrote a column in the Turlock Journal on proper foot care.
Source: Turlock Journal [10/21/23]
10/19/2023
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (OBITUARIES) - PART 1 C
From: Mark Squire, DPM
I met Gary when we were co-residents at Harrison Community Hospital. I was from NY and Gary a native Michigander; and he made me feel like family. He was soft spoken and a gentle soul. He was also an academic and scholar and we often drove down to Wayne State Medical School to read journals.
We had many adventures together such as the time he built a sailboat. The first time we put it in water, he was reading the manual on how to sail while he was at the tiller! One time, several of the residents decided to go cross country skiing. Gary had the car keys but lost them somewhere on the trail, and did not realize that until it got dark and it was time to go home. We had to return the next morning at dawn to hunt for the keys. We found them in the parking lot!
He was too young to pass and he will be greatly missed.
Mark Squire, DPM
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