Search by Name

Search by Name

Charles Francis Paterno M.D.

Charles Francis Paterno M.D. obituary, 90, Formerly Of Rumson

Charles Paterno Obituary

(Asbury Park Press)

CHARLES FRANCIS PATERNO, MD, F.A.C.S.
AGE: 90 FORMERLY OF RUMSON
Dr. Charles F. Paterno passed away Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, at his home in Vero Beach, Florida. Born June 8, 1919 in Brooklyn, NY, he attended St. Francis Preparatory School, graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1940 and obtained his medical degree from the Long Island College of Medicine, NY. Dr. Paterno received surgical training in each field of surgery during his residences, and was appointed Chief Surgical Resident at Metropolitan Hospital and Flower Fifth Avenue Hospitals in New York. He received his Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1951. It was at Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital where he met his future wife, Kathleen McDonald, RN. They were married for 59 years and raised nine children. He later described his wife, whom he called Kay, as "the person I most admire." As a Captain in the US Army, during the Korean War, Dr. Paterno helped establish a MASH-type unit in California for wounded soldiers. After an honorable discharge, he returned to his roots on the East Coast, setting up practice in Red Bank, New Jersey, where he served as a general surgeon on the staff of Monmouth Medical Center and Riverview Hospital. He was later elected Director of Surgery and President of the Medical Board at Riverview Hospital, where he practiced medicine for 34 years. Dr. Paterno, well known for his keen sense of humor, was a long time resident of Rumson, New Jersey, along with his wife and children. Active in the community, he served on the Rumson City Council and was later elected Mayor, a position he proudly held for almost a decade. In 1989 the local paper voted Paterno "the most popular Mayor in Monmouth County." He and his family are members of Vero Beach County Club and Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach and former members of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Rumson Country Club and Sea Bright Beach Club in NJ. Dr. Paterno was also an avid alumnus of his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, and was awarded the "Man of the Year Award" in 1969 by the Notre Dame Club of the Jersey Shore. Retiring to Vero Beach, Florida in 1989, Dr. Paterno continued his community service. He was a member of the Indian Trails Architectural Board and an auxilian at Indian River Memorial Hospital, where he was appointed to the Executive Committee and elected the first male President of the auxiliary.
Affectionately called "Papa Doc" by his 23 grandchildren, Dr. Paterno is survived by his wife, Kay, and his nine children and their spouses, Patricia (Mark) Flanagan, Great Falls, VA, Kathleen (Dan) Knise, McLean, VA, Carla (James) Annese, Fanwood, NJ, Charles (Jacquelyn) Paterno, Chapel Hill, NC, Mary (Douglas) Schmidt, Farmingdale, NJ, William (Renee) Paterno, Shrewsbury, NJ, Elizabeth (David) Russell, Reston, VA, Christopher (Anne) Paterno, Marina del Rey, CA and Anne Marie (Brian) Kilgallon, Arlington, VA.
A visitation will be held Friday, Feb. 19 from 5-7 PM at the Strunk Funeral Home, 916 17th Street, Vero Beach, FL. A celebratory funeral Mass will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Rumson, NJ, in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted for the Dr. Charles F. Paterno Memorial Fund, The University of Notre Dame, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 or the Indian River Medical Center Auxiliary, 1000 36th St. Vero Beach, FL 32963 Attn: Gloria Bradley.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Asbury Park Press from Feb. 14 to Feb. 16, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Charles Paterno

Not sure what to say?





Conchi Chicas

February 24, 2010

My time with the Paterno family was very special to me. My heart is with all of you. Conchi Chicas

Edward Dixon

February 18, 2010

To Mrs. Paterno and all The Paterno Family, Our deepest sympathy on the loss of Dr. Paterno. He was a wonderful man, and we will always have fond memories of those good old Rumson days. Wishing the best to all of you from all of The Dixon's....

Michelle Miano-Valentine

February 17, 2010

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived. My sympathies to you all!

Anthony Spina

February 17, 2010

Dear Bill and the entire Paterno Family:
I am so sory to hear about your lost. In reading the obituary and reading the comments from other who had known him or were saved by him, that Charles F. Paterno was a great man and will be missed. May God comfort you in your time of mourning.

Kristine Arway

February 17, 2010

Dear Billy and the entire Paterno Family,
We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your Father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. May God's Love comfort you and give you peace. Kris, Rick, Alexis and Richard Arway

Dennis & Leila Knise

February 17, 2010

Our condolences to the Paterno family and friends. While we did not know him well, we know that he was a very important part of the family's lives and was able to enjoy many happy times with Kathi, Dan and their sons.
May God give you the strength during this very difficult time.

Analicia Cube

February 16, 2010

Our prayers are with the entire family. I never met your father Ann Marie but I know he must of been an amazing human being to have raised a daughter like you.

Ruth Kolarsick

February 16, 2010

Dear Kay & Paterno Family,
I send my heartfelt sympathy to you. Another great doctor leaves our world. May fond memories always keep Dr. Paterno alive in your hearts. He will be missed by many. I wish you all Peace.Time is a great healer and teaches you to be thankful for what you had.
With Loving Prayers,
Ruth N. Kolarsick

February 16, 2010

Dear Mrs. Paterno, Patricia and Family,
I will always have the fondest memory of Dr. Paterno. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
With Sympathy,
Lynn Ruello McManus

Arlene Clancy-Dooley

February 16, 2010

Dear Carla and all the Paterno Family- My sincere condolences on the hugh loss of your father. He was someone for all of us to look up to and emulate. Celebrate his life! Kind Regards, Arlene Clancy Dooley and Rich Dooley

February 16, 2010

Bill - it sounds as though your father was a remarkable man - my condolences to you and your family. George Skinner

February 15, 2010

Dear Carla and family, I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you.
Rita Brown

Tom Garley

February 15, 2010

Our prayers, thoughts, and condolences go out to the Paterno family.

God Bless.

Tom Garley & family

David Dubel

February 15, 2010

My Dad alway said that the game of GOLF showed us a great similarity to life. Dr Paterno was the example of how a "MAN" should act. He was always a GENTLEMAN no matter who he was playing with. I always enjoyed being his caddie. Thank you for the life lessons and most of all thank you for being my Dads friend.

Violet Kauffman RN

February 14, 2010

So sorry for your loss, my condoldences to the family. I have had the pleasure of working with Dr Paterno at Riverview Hospital, he was a wonderful doctor,

JUDITH DAILEY

February 14, 2010

MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS GO OUT TO THE PATERNO FAMILY. I WORKED WITH DR. PATERNO AT RIVERVIEW FROM 1966 UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT. I TYPED NUMEROUS REPORTS SINCE I WAS A TRANSCRIPTIONIST IN MEDICAL RECORDS UNDER SONJA BENNETT. I WILL REMEMBER DR, PATERNO DURING MY LENTEN PRAYERS. JUDY DAILEY

February 14, 2010

My deepest condolences are with you in your time of grief. May you continue to find comfort in the memories that you all shared together and get comfort from knowing one day Sickness will be no more and Death will be a thing of the past. In times of grief such as these, I find it comforting to meditate on the words found in the Holy Writings at Job 14:14, 15. Job expressed his faith that God would bring him back to life if he should fall asleep in death, "All the days of my compulsory service I shall wait, until my relief comes. You will call, and I myself shall answer you." The scriptures indicate that it is possible to reunite with your loved one in the near future, right here on earth under peaceful, righteous conditions. Psalms 37:10, 11 offers us this promise. My sincere condolences to your entire family.


Lynette Gonzalez-NJ

Christopher Friedman

February 14, 2010

Sorry for your loss...
I never really "met" Dr. Paterno, he was a good friend of my father, also an MD at Riverview. He saved my life when I was a few weeks old. I was diagnosed with Pyloric Stenosis, he operated and saved my life. God speed and thank you. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
C. Friedman

Rose Stanley

February 14, 2010

Kathy & Patty and family,
My sincere sympathy to all of you. No matter how long we have our parents, losing them is a major heartbreak.
Rose Stanley

February 14, 2010

We are sorry for your loss and our prayers are with you.

Vito and Maria Gulli

February 14, 2010

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your wonderful family -- angel has been blessed with another angel.
Pegeen (Scully), Kevin, Kevin Matthew and Katie Walsh, McLean, VA

Jack & Dot Kay

February 14, 2010

Dear Kay,
Dot and Jack Kay send their sincere condolences to you and your family.Charlie was great person as well as a wonderful physician.

Ginny Ellis Mazza

February 14, 2010

I am so sorry for your loss. I went to school with Patty and have fond memories of hanging out at the Paterno house. My prayers are with you all. Ginny Ellis Mazza

Stephen Dubel, M.D.

February 14, 2010

Charlie has always been the ultimate friend, the most accomplished physician, and the finest and most respected gentleman that one could know. His caring for others was unequaled and his love of family has been unsurpassed.
Over the 48 years that I have known him he continued to amaze me with his sense of humor and his unfailing integrity
Stephen J. Dubel, M.D.

Patti McGrath Homefield

February 14, 2010

To Carla & the entire Paterno Family,

My sympathies to all of you. He was a wonderful doctor. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

February 14, 2010

DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY
MIKE AND BOB STOUT

Showing 1 - 26 of 26 results

Make a Donation
in Charles Paterno's name

Memorial Events
for Charles Paterno

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

How to support Charles's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Charles Paterno's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more