Dr. Gino Tutera, 70, left the desert sun of Arizona and entered the gates of heaven and into the hands of God, Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Honor Health Shea Hospital. A Celebration of Life to honor him will be on Tuesday, December 1st at the Carriage Club, 5301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO 64112 in The Ballroom from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A blessing will be said at 6:30 PM. Family has requested in lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Rockhurst High School, 9301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO 64114 in memory of Dr. Gino Tutera.
Gino was born on September 28, 1945 in Rome Italy and grew up in the Northeast section of Kansas City among three generations of loving relatives and friends. He received a Jesuit education at Rockhurst High School and attended the University of Missouri at Columbia where he received his medical degree in 1971. He did post-graduate training at St. Luke’s Hospital and was its chief resident in 1974. Gino held the position of clinical Professor of OB/GYN at the hospital. He also held positions as medical Director of OB/GYN at Baptist Medical Center where he practiced and delivered thousands of babies. He held many positions in Missouri, California and Arizona and was very visible on the lecture and seminar circuit. Gino held memberships in many medical societies centered around his chosen field of Obstetrics and Gynecology and later in hormone replacement and was widely published on many topics. Dr. Tutera was presented with many prestigious awards among which he received the Golden Apple Award from St. Luke’s Hospital and was listed as Americas Top OB/GYN in Arizona, The Leading Physicians of the World and an American Biographical Institute Fellow. Dr. Tutera holds certifications and licensure in 10 states.
Gino Tutera is a pioneer and visionary in the field of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy for men and women. His hormone replacement therapy, SottoPelle, founded in 2002, helps people age gracefully. Dr. Tutera proposed the SottoPelle method in his book, “You Don’t Have to Live With It” and also wrote a second book “Life Regained: The Real Solution to Managing Menopause and Andropause” in addition to other books and published articles on menopause. Aside from his pioneering efforts, he founded his self-made practices in Missouri, California and Arizona for over 40 years.
Business and career were very important to Gino but what were of paramount importance were his wife, family, faith, and friends. He was a devoted husband, loving father and caring doctor. His passions in life were his family members and his two Chihuahuas – Sukie and Tatiana – and his patients and all those babies that he helped arrive in this world and the mothers that brought them. He also had equal passion for travel when accompanied by his wife and children. Whether it was delivering babies or treating hormone patients, he was always focused on making the life of his patients better and happier. He changed the lives of so many patients. Gino was a man with a vision, a vision to help his patients regain their health and happy lifestyles. He was a truly dedicated doctor, friend to each of them, but a tender soul with a huge heart, always putting everyone’s needs before his. He gave so much of his heart to others that when it came time for him to have it, there was nothing left. Gino will always be remembered as a true gentleman and a strong man of character to his wife and family. Gino’s attitude, sense of humor, loving heart, and caring spirit will always be missed by those who knew him.
Gino was preceded in death by his father, Frank Tutera, and his mother Elena Tutera, his sister Gina Tutera Lanham and previous generations of loving family. He is survived by his wife CarolAnn, his daughter Ashley Tutera, son Dominic Tutera and wife Allison and two grandchildren, Henry and Josephine, and his stepson Adam Stempel and wife Blanca, mother-in-law Shirley Pener, brother Frank Tutera, sister Caroline Tutera, brother Joe Tutera and wife Karen, and sister Maria Tutera and husband Frank Alessio, brother-in-law Steven Lanham, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Julie and Chad Ullman, Marsha Johnston, and Barry and Francine Pener.
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free.
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard Him call;
I turned by back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I found that peace at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;
Ah yes, these things, I too will miss.
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