DR. JOSEPH A. "JOE" VITA

Vita, Dr. Joseph A. "Joe" At age 58, of Hingham, MA, lost his courageous battle with cancer at home on November 2, 2014, surrounded by his family. For 24 years he was the loving and devoted husband of Gina (Fantasia) Vita of Hingham. Joe was the beloved son of the late Martin Vita MD and Marian (Sopher) Vita of Ridgefield, CT. He was an amazing father to Olivia and Sam Vita of Hingham, who adored him. He is the brother of Margaret Whiteman and her husband Gregg of Hudson, OH; Isabelle Vita Williams and her husband Chris of Redding, CT; Thomas Vita and his wife Paula of London, England; Paul Vita of Madrid, Spain; and Susan Vita of Windsor, CT. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. A graduate of John Jay high school in Katonah, NY (1974) he went on to receive an undergraduate degree from Yale University (1978), where he was a member of the Whiffenpoofs. He received his doctor of medicine from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (1982), where he was also Chief Resident. He completed his cardiology fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He went on to become director of clinical research at the Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, professor of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, and senior staff cardiologist in the Section of Cardiovascular Medicine at Boston Medical Center. A member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of University Cardiologists, Dr. Vita was a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association Councils on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, Basic Cardiovascular Sciences and Clinical Cardiology. Dr. Vita served on numerous study sections for the NIH and American Heart Association and is a former Chair of the Cardiovascular Pathophysiology Study Section for the AHA. He was a member of the editorial boards of the American Journal of Physiology, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Coronary Artery Disease, and served as Deputy Editor of the journal Circulation. He was author or co-author of more than 200 peer-reviewed publications. A lifelong sailor, Joe was a member of the Hingham Yacht Club where he was a regular participant in PHRF racing. He will be remembered as a generous and compassionate gentleman, who has been described as brilliant and kind. He treasured his time with his family, and watching his New England Patriots. Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, November 5, 2014 from 3 to 7 PM at Sullivan Funeral Home, 551 Washington Street, Rte 53, HANOVER, MA. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 6, at 11 AM at Old Ship Church, 107 Main Street, Hingham, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either: The Joseph Vita Family Beneficiary Fund, Hingham Institution for Savings, attention Jinnie Walsh, 55 Main Street, Hingham, MA 02043; OR Trustees of Boston University with a note "In honor of Dr. Joseph Vita", c/o BU Development Office, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118. For directions and to sign Dr. Vita's online guest book, please visit SullivanFuneralHomes.com 781-878-0920 781-293-2020 Family Owned & Operated Since 1897