DR. JOSEPH FREDERICK DI TROIA

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JOSEPH DI TROIA Obituary

DI TROIA, Dr. Joseph Frederick Age 86, of Canton, passed away on March 23, at his home, surrounded by his family and his books. He was born in Winthrop, MA, in 1932, and graduated from Boston Latin School, Harvard College and Boston University School of Medicine. At Harvard, Joseph lived in Adams House and heard daily a 356 Porsche idle at the stop sign beneath his window, igniting a lifelong love of cars. Joseph's drive for mastery was well-matched by his profession as a surgeon. He retired from ENT Specialists, Inc. in 2003, proud of a career spent in the service of others. He pursued his hobbies with the same focus as medicine: studying German and Italian, lifting weights daily, researching the American political system and economy and playing tennis, golf and skiing. The greatest of all these was skiing, which he learned with his wife, Susan, in his mid-twenties and later spent every winter weekend and holiday skiing with his family at Waterville Valley, NH. Even though Joseph and Susan frequently traveled to ski resorts across Europe and the American West, his favorite mountain memories were at the Blue Hills Ski Area in Canton, where he taught his grandchildren to ski. Joseph was introduced to his future wife, Susan Goubeaux, by a medical school classmate, Thomas Bagnoli, who was dating and later married Susan's sister, Ann, cementing Tom and Joseph's decades-spanning friendship. This introduction to Susan was the great good fortune of Joseph's life. He deeply loved her for over fifty years and mourned her death in 2019. Joseph lives on through his daughter, Sarah Di Troia, who possesses excellent car detailing skills; his son-in-law, John Buten, who can carve a perfect turn; his granddaughter, Rosemary Di Troia, who is studying nursing; and his grandson, Oliver Buten, who avidly debates politics and economics. He is survived by his big sister, June Alfano; his niece, Carla C.; and nephew, Paul Alfano. Following Joseph's wishes, there will not be a Memorial Service or Funeral and his ashes will be Buried at home with those of his wife and son, David, who died in 1996. Please honor Joseph's memory by sending gifts in his name to CrisisTextLine.org or by raising a glass of good scotch. Shoulder-high we bring you home, And set you at your threshold down, Townsman of a stiller town. -A.E. Housman

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Published by Boston Globe from Mar. 23 to Mar. 24, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for JOSEPH DI TROIA

8 Entries

Gerald Healy

April 29, 2024

I am so saddened to learn of the death of my dear friend, Joe. He and I trained together and were friends for more than 40 years. Susan, Joe and my dear wife Anne did so many things together over the years. Unfortunately, I was in Florida when Joe passed and just learned of his death today.
He was a gifted surgeon and a true scholar. I shall miss our dinners together as we both lost our dear wives. RIP my friend.

Gerry Healy

Pam Dana

April 1, 2024

One of the best, a consumate surgeon, student of medicine and colleague.

Douglas O'Brien, MD

March 27, 2024

I was so fortunate to have known Joe after joining ENT Specialists in 2001. He was a mentor to me as I quickly realized I had the opportunity to learn from a master surgeon in otologic surgery. I will always remember his dry wit, intellect, and composure but most importantly his kindness. I am a better surgeon and person because of him. Thank you Joe, until we meet again. My sincerest condolences to his family.

Pam Birkenfeld

March 25, 2024

Joe and Susan were neighbors to my late husband and me for 27 years. Susan was terrific, and she made Joe promise to take the recycle bin that we shared down to the street. And he did faithfully thereafter, especially after my husband passed away three years ago. Joe and I belonged to the same health club and often visited while we were there, as well as down by the mailboxes that we shared. This past winter when the electricity went out, we both found ourselves at the hotel up the street and shared a couple of glasses of wine and had a good talk. He always told me how brilliant Sarah is, he was very proud of his daughter. I will miss Joe a lot, as will all of us here on our little lane.

will alfano

March 25, 2024

Thank you for hosting many holidays throughout my childhood. Thank you for removing that coin I stuck in my nose. Best wishes on your next adventure.
Love, Willie.

Seema Byahatti

March 25, 2024

Joe was a partner, mentor and friend. He had a great dry sense of humor that will be missed. It was a sad day when he retired from ENT Specialists and an even sadder day when he passed. He will be missed by all of us who had the pleasure of working with him.

Seema Byahatti

Sally Corbin

March 24, 2024

Joe was a brilliant Dr., a wonderful husband and a loving father. I have known the DiTroia family for over 50 years. A couple of memories that I have of Joe, was when
my son was graduating from high school, in the mid eighties, he sent a very generous check to my son with a note, saying "well done". I remember telling Susan what a delightful surprise for my son and she said "he never said a word about it to me, but he does that sometimes with kids that he has admired"
Another memory I have of Joe, was when Susan suddenly died, he didn't know the first thing about cooking, so I went over to show him a couple of
things, their stove was electric, and in the process of figuring out what knob
went with what burner and how to work the top of the stove, Joe helped out and then we went about cutting vegetables up and finally noticed that we had a smoking stove-top fire, we had left things on the top of the stove, we were startled and embarrassed but it is a memory that makes smile all these years later. Yes, I also have memories of stacks of books that Joe was reading as well as his fancy Italian car that he loved to put the petal to the
metal (as they say)

Linda Grunow

March 23, 2024

Joe was a good, good man. He and my sister Susie had a wonderful life together, and the only good part of losing him is knowing that they are together again. Sending hugs!

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