Joseph TAFARO

TAFARO Joseph W., M.D., husband, father, grandfather, physician and dear friend of many died peacefully on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 at age 79 at VNA Hospice in Vero Beach, Florida. He was born in Newark, New Jersey on February 12, 1924, the son of the late Stephen Tafaro and Susan Tafaro. He graduated valedictorian from West Side High School in Newark, attended Seton Hall University and Yale University, while serving in the United States Army. Due to a shortage of doctors during World War II, the army sent him to medical school before he completed his college degree, to Loyola Univeristy of Chicago, where he obtained his M.D. in 1948. After achieving prominence as a physician, his love of education brought him back to Seton Hall where he received his Bachelor's degree in 1973, along with multiple awards in philosophy and theology, and graduated Summa Cum Laude at the age of 49. He had a long and successful career in medicine, beginning with an internship at St. Michael's Medcal Center in Newark, NJ. followed by a residency in anesthesiology at St. Francis Medical Center in Hartford, CT.. He then served his country in Korea as a physician. He returned to St. Michaels where he was the first chief of the department of anesthesiology for 35 years until his retirement in 1989. He also held numerous hospital positions at St. Michael's including president of the medical staff. Among his professional accomplishments include his participation in the early development of cardiac bypass surgery and his eventual specialization in cardiac anesthesiology. He was a Diplomat of the American Board of Anesthesiology and a Fellow of the American College of Anesthesiology. Dr. Tafaro leaves his loving wife of 53 years, Florence Reino Tafaro of Vero Beach, Florida, five children including John P. Tafaro and daughter-in-law Charlotte Caples Tafaro of Cincinnati and 13 grandchildren and step grandchildren including Marisa A. Tafaro of Loveland, and Bobby Caples and Caroline Caples o Cincinnati. He visited Cincinnati often and developed many close friendships here. A Roman Catholic Funeral Mass was held Wednesday, May 28th at St. Rose of Lima Church in Short Hills, NJ, the same church where Dr. and Mrs. Tafaro were married, followed by interment in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hospice or Visiting Nurse Association of donor's choice.