LOUIS DEL GUERCIO

DEL GUERCIO--Dr. Louis R.M. of Larchmont died on Friday, March 8 due to complications from a brain tumor. He was 84. A renowned thoracic surgeon and pioneer in his field, he was also an artist, inventor, public servant, mentor and entrepreneur. He was an individual who was committed to enhancing the lives of others. He was born on January 15, 1929 to Louis and Hortense (Ardengo) Del Guercio and grew up in Larchmont where he lived all of his life. Dr. Del Guercio graduated from Fordham College in 1948 with a B.S. degree, cum laude. He attended the Yale School of Medicine and received his post-graduate training in surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Medial Center, Saint Vincent's Medical Center and Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital. At the Albert Einstein College of Medicine from 1960- 1971 he progressed from Instructor of Surgery to Professor. He then served as Chief of Surgery at the Saint Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey until 1976 when he was appointed Chairman of Surgery at New York Medical College and Chief of Surgery at Westchester Medical Center where he served for 26 years until his retirement. He was the author of three textbooks and 320 surgical articles. He was one of the founders and past presidents of the Society of Critical Care Medicine. He volunteered for the first Gulf War and was commissioned a full Colonel and put in charge of the 320th Evacuation Hospital. He was awarded the U.S. Army Commendation Medal in 1991. He most recently served on the board of the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, the Executive Committee of the Yale Medical Alumni Association and the Fordham Science Council. In his retirement he walked with his sons on a 500- mile pilgrimage to the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostella. He was also an avid fisherman, sailor, painter and tennis player. He loved nothing more than spending time at his waterfront home with his family and pets. He is survived by his beloved wife Paula of 56 years; his children Louis (Carolyn), Francesca (Robert) Monro, Paul (Marianne), Catherine (Luc) Gregoire, Maria (Greg) Stanton, Michelle (Mark) Ferri, Christopher (Berit) and Anthony (Magan); his 15 grandchildren; and his sister Eligia Dundee and her children. Donations can be made in his name to Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center. Visiting Sunday 1-6pm and Monday 4-8pm at Fox Funeral Home in Larchmont. Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday 10:00am at St. Augustine Church in Larchmont. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne.