Dr. Donato D. Mecca

Dr. Donato D. Mecca, of Willistown, Pa., passed away on Monday, May 16, 2017 at the age of 83. He was a well-respected ophthalmologist in Scranton and the son of Dr. and Mrs. Donato D. Mecca, Sr. of Dunmore. Donato was a 1951 graduate of Dunmore High School, where he was valedictorian and science award winner. He was salutatorian of the 1955 class of the University of Scranton and was listed in the Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. He graduated from Temple University School of Medicine in 1959. While at Temple, he was a member of the Cosmos and Damian Catholic Society. After graduating from medical school, Donato served in Korea for 16 months in a M.A.S.H. unit with the US Army as an officer (captain of Medical Corps). Subsequent to his honorable discharge from the Army in 1962, he returned home to begin his medical career and start a family. He married Kathryn (Lonergan) Mecca in 1964 (who predeceased him in March of 2017) and opened a general practice in Olyphant. Following eight years of balancing the demands of a growing family and a practice that consisted of house calls and emergency visits, he chose to make a change to ophthalmology. After completing a Residency of Ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson Hospital in 1973, he went on to establish a successful solo practice in Scranton for 35 years. He was a member of the American, Pennsylvania and Lackawanna County Medical Societies. He retired in 2008. He is survived by his adult children, Dr. Kevin Mecca, Erin Mecca, and Keith Mecca, Esq. and his wife; Nadine and three grandchildren Kaden, Brooke and Maxwell; and his brother; Dr. John Mecca. Donato was a loyal husband, generous father and the cornerstone of his family. He was an "old fashioned" doctor and will be remembered by his patients for his humorous bed-side manner, charm and ability to comfort them in their time of need. He will be remembered by his peers for his attention to detail and intellect and by his friends for his love of golf and endless attempts to make everyone smile with a joke. He was a devote Catholic with a deep fondness of St. Padre Pio. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. at St. Gregory's Church (Abington Road, Clarks Green, Pa.) followed by a noon Memorial Service on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Patrick's Scholarship Fund, 104 Channing Avenue, Malvern, Pa. 19355.