NICHOLAS DEPASQUALE

DEPASQUALE--Dr. Nicholas,

On August 17, 2018, as lightning rode across the New York night, Dr. Nicholas P. DePasquale, age 91, passed away peacefully. He was born on July 18, 1927 in Flushing, New York to Nicholas and Eugenia DePasquale. From a young age, Nick was an indomitable thinker who challenged conventional wisdom, a trait that got him expelled from Xavier High School, but would later serve him well as a doctor. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II, and was an accomplished collegiate baseball player, before entering the medical profession (just as his mother had predicted he would do when he was seven years old). He received his medical degree from the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in 1956. He was a resident, fellow, faculty member, and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1957 to 1966, where he worked alongside Dr. George Burch. Together, they conducted pioneering research in the field of cardiology. He authored over 160 academic articles and six books, still routinely cited to this day, including A History of Electrocardiography, which was highly influential in the adoption of electrocardiography for diagnostic purposes. In 1966, Nick returned to New York, where he oversaw the development of the first Coronary Care Unit in the New York metropolitan area at Lenox Hill Hospital, serving as chief of the cardiology department until his retirement in 2006. During his tenure, he attracted top talent to the hospital, transforming the small coronary care unit into a premier institution utilizing cutting-edge technologies and setting the standard for the treatment of heart disease. In 1995, the hospital bestowed him with a medal of distinction in recognition of his achievements. He also served on the editorial boards of the American Heart Journal and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. He loved his patients deeply and considered them friends entrusted to his care. He never refused a phone call or a knock on the door, but expected little in return, instructing his patients to direct any financial gifts to the hospital. One prominent patient even scolded him, claiming it was embarrassing how little Nick charged for his services. He was also a great lover of the arts, the operas of Giuseppe Verdi, in particular. On one occasion, he informed the famous tenor Franco Corelli that, unbeknownst to Mr. Corelli, the two of them had performed many duets together, predominately while Nick was in the shower. He was also an amateur painter and decorated his apartment in Manhattan with his own artwork. He was preceded in death by his sister, Josephine, and his brother, Luigi. He is survived by his wife and the mother of his children, Judith; his brother, Eugene; his four children, Nicholas, Lisa, James, and Paul; and six grandchildren. From Northwell / Lenox Hill Hospital: "Dr. Nicholas DePasquale was the chair of cardiology at Lenox Hill Hospital for over thirty years," said Dr. Varinder Singh, Western Region Senior Vice President of Cardiology Services, and Chair of Cardiology at Lenox Hill Hospital. "He is considered a foundational member of the Lenox Hill medical staff that helped establish LHH as an internationally recognized institution for its clinical and research activities. Dr. DePasquale was also a dedicated educator who influenced the career of countless physicians during his career. The Lenox Hill community mourns his passing and we will forever be indebted to his dedication." "Dr. Nicholas P. DePasquale served with distinction as Chief of Cardiology at Lenox HIll Hospital for more than thirty years," said Jill Kalman, executive director, Lenox Hill Hospital. "He was a foundational member of the LHH faculty, and he was a teacher and mentor to hundreds of residents, fellows and cardiologists over his long career. Under his guidance, LHH became an internationally recognized institution for cardiology research, education and clinical excellence. He established the first Cardiac Care Unit in New York City, and under his supervision the first coronary balloon angioplasty in the U.S was performed in 1978 by Dr. Simon Stertzer. The Department of Cardiology and the entire LHH community mourns his passing, and will be forever grateful for his devotion, his wonderful humor and keen intellect."