Robert J. Scardina D.P.M.

Robert J. Scardina D.P.M. obituary, Utica, NY

Robert J. Scardina D.P.M.

Robert Scardina Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Home - New Hartford on Aug. 4, 2025.

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Robert J. Scardina, D.P.M.
Dr. Scardina was a New Hartford native educated by the town's public school system. In high school he was a member of the football and basketball leagues.
He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a major in pre-professional studies and was accepted into the California College of Podiatric Medicine where he received his medical degree.
He completed his medical and surgical residency at the New England Deaconess Hospital and a podiatric fellowship at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. Upon graduating, he became the assistant director of the podiatric residency program at the New England Deaconess Hospital.
Dr. Scardina went on to establish a podiatry service and residency program at the Massachusetts General Hospital where he became Chief of the Podiatry Service and Director of the Podiatric Residency Program. He served in this position for 32 years.
He was also a volunteer at the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless facility for which he received special recognition.
Upon returning to New Hartford, Dr. Scardina developed a podiatric residency program for the Mohawk Valley Healthcare System which included Podiatry Services at the Sister Rose Vincent Family Medicine Center.
He was a Diplomate with the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery.
In his spare time, he enjoyed gardening, grilling and ending the summer months in the Adirondacks.
He leaves two daughters, Amy Scardina, and Tracey Sterling sister Sandy Dressel, a niece Mande Zecca, dear neighbors Denise and Joe Luker and cherished friend Robin Polansky.
Dr. Scardina will be deeply missed by the many patients that he treated clinically and surgically as well as colleagues from Massachusetts and New York.
Services were held privately for the family. Arrangements are with Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral and Cremation Services.
For online expressions of sympathy go to fwefh.com.

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August 28, 2025

Jim O'Connell posted to the memorial.

August 27, 2025

Bob DeNigro posted to the memorial.

August 16, 2025

Carol Ann DiVaio, DPM posted to the memorial.

Jim O'Connell

August 28, 2025

I was a classmate of Rob's at ND and we later met again at MGH when he was directing the Podiatry Residency Program and eventually chair of the department. Rob was an innovator and a pioneer who never forgot the poor and homeless of Boston. When I first started at Pine Street Inn, New England's largest shelter, in 1985, Rob and the podiatry residents came regularly to conduct clinics for the homeless men and women, whose feet were desperately in need of care. The nurses, the guests, and especially those of us working in the shelter clinic, came to love, admire, and cherish what Rob accomplished so quietly and humbly. What an inspiration and I am so devastated to hear of his passing.

Bob DeNigro

August 27, 2025

Rob and I have been friends since the first day we met playing pop warner football, and attending New Hartford schools together. The laughter started there, and although our education and careers sent us miles apart, we kept in touch, and the laughs continued via visits, texts, phone calls and cards. Rob and my birthday were one day apart, so we always kept up with communication on that day. When I did not hear from them this year I was concerned and shocked to hear of his passing ....Rob was a good friend who could be as funny as he was serious, and did so based on what the situation called for . ..he will be greatly missed ....God bless you buddy, and God bless your family>

Carol Ann DiVaio, DPM

August 16, 2025

So shocked!! Always grateful to him for giving me a chance and starting my career in Podiatry. He left a legacy at MGH. A well respected diagnostician and surgeon. Will be greatly missed.

Chris DiGiovanni

August 15, 2025

Wishing peace for the Scardina family during this difficult time. Rob will be missed by the foot and ankle service and the patients we serve at MGH. He did so much for us and for this program over his many decades of dedicated service.

Judy Getz Kain

August 10, 2025

So sorry to see that Rob has passed. We were neighbors growing up on Beechwood Road, and he was a friend of my brother´s. Condolences to Sandy and Rob´s other family members .

Terence Vanderheiden

August 6, 2025

My sympathies to his family and friends. Dr. Wortzman texted me this morning to tell me of Dr. Scardina's passing. I was so sorry to hear the news. I was a resident of Dr. Scardina's at MGH. It was an amazing opportunity for me to learn from someone like Dr. Scardina. I am just a small town kid from South Dakota and thanks to Dr. Frykberg, I had the chance to interview with Dr. Scardina at MGH and thankfully be chosen to be one of his residents. My years at MGH have shaped my life and career. Dr. Scardina was an amazing diagnostician and surgeon. I would walk out of a treatment room not sure what the patient had. He would walk in, ask all the right questions and perform all the right examination techniques and we would have a diagnosis and treatment plan in a matter of minutes. Learning surgery from Dr. Scardina was like watching a maestro conduct an orchestra. He had surgical procedures down to such exactness that the whole surgical team was ready and knew what he wanted before he even spoke. His hands were meticulous in performing the procedures and his outcomes matched the precision. Not only was Dr. Scardina incredible to work with and learn from, but he surrounded himself with other talented people that also taught medicine and life lessons. Robin was always there, ready to help with whatever was needed. Dr. Scardina was the consummate professional. I hold him in such high regard and my respect for him is immense. May peace and love surround his family and friends.

Bill Lirofonis

August 6, 2025

My sincere sorrow and condolences to his entire family. Dr. Rob.Scardina was my residency director, my mentor and as years progressed my friend. I always looked forward to catching up with him at our conference in October and keeping up with him over the emails with birthday wishes and the Kramer Thanksgiving card that has not missed one delivery since 2007.
He was a good man that I owe a lot too, and I will miss seeing him and speaking with him. Just a great guy that I am lucky to have met and gotten to know.

Stuart Kigner, DPM

August 6, 2025

My sincere condolences to the Scardina family. I had the opportunity to work with Rob at the Massachusetts General Hospital Podiatry Unit for approximately 30 years. He was a pioneer in expanding academic medical center podiatric surgical privileges in Boston. To the best of my knowledge, Rob was the first podiatrist to perform surgery at MGH. As a trailblazer he navigated a course for the role of Podiatry in a large teaching hospital with many established disciplines that overlapped Podiatry.

He loved being an educator. He initiated the Podiatry Residency Program at MGH and was the Program Director for decades. He was so well organized at CPME Residency site reviews that I believe that he was asked to assist in preparation for other MGH Residency site reviews.

I appreciated the insight he provided in diagnosing and treating the most challenging patients. Rob will be remembered by the staff that were privileged to work with him and for the care that he provided to the thousands of patients whose quality of life he enhanced.

Joel Chariton DPM

August 6, 2025

So sorry to hear about the loss of Dr. Scardina. I am always grateful for his guidance in my first years in practice in Boston. Always made me laugh and learn at the same time. Heartfelt condolences to the family
Will miss you and grateful for your positive contributions to Podiatry.

MGH

August 6, 2025

I am currently running Podiatry Limb Preservation Clinic and by all accounts, things are going well. That is because my residency director was Dr. Scardina. A man who had high principles and took teaching the next generation of Podiatrists very seriously. He always told me that medicine was on a pendulum and it would swing back-and-forth and that every 10 years something would change. He knew medicine better than anyone I have encountered in my career. My time with him was not easy because he made me work for it And little did I know that those hours spent at the Mass General would instill in me a work ethic that would carry me through my career. There is no hyperbole here when I say he meant the world to me and will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace, and I pray that our paths will cross once again. My condolences to his loved ones and family. With great sorrow, Dr. Riccitelli.

James P. Ioli

August 6, 2025

My heartfelt condolences to the Scardina family. I had the privilege of meeting Rob when I was a student. I was fortunate to have worked with him as a resident and later as an attending at the MGH podiatry unit. He was an exceptional mentor, teacher, and a skilled surgeon. He was all business at the office, however he had a great sense of humor after hours. We would often quote lines from the Marx Brothers movies and discuss one of his favorite television shows, Perry Mason. One of my fondest memories is when he would say, "Baby needs new shoes," after rolling the dice during a Yahtzee game we played with Amy and Tracy when he visited when they were young.

Rest in peace, my dear friend.

John Osmar

August 6, 2025

Rob and I were roommates freshman year at Notre Dame. We had too much fun, saw great football, played too much basketball, but he was a good student, and I'm glad to see that he had such a great career.

Christina Torchia

August 5, 2025

A true gentleman with a big heart and a sense of humor I always appreciated. Dr. Scardina has left a void in us all, who were blessed to have known him.

Dr Robert Frykberg

August 5, 2025

Rob was a great co-resident and friend of 49 years. One of the smartest podiatrists I´ve ever known. A good friend who will be missed. God Bless him and Tracy and Amy who I knew when they were young girls

Howard Dananberg

August 5, 2025

Rob was an excellent podiatrist and an even better man. He will truly be missed. My condolences to his family.

Iqbaljit Singh

August 5, 2025

Dr. Scardina was our Podiatric program director. He provided a well organized and structured residency program. He was an excellent teacher and was a strict but fair program director. My co-resident and I will be the last residents He graduated in his storied career as a program director based mostly out of Massachusetts General Hospital.

Svetlana D.

August 5, 2025

Dr. Scardina was a wonderful physician, mentor, and colleague. His kindness, dedication, and impact on those around him will not be forgotten.
He will be deeply missed.

Dr. Evelyn Salgado

August 5, 2025

My deepest condolences to the family. May he rest in eternal peace. He was a great colleague and excellent professional.

Lori McGurk

August 4, 2025

I worked side by side by Dr. Scardina for the past 4 1/2 years. He treated more like family than an employee. Im so heartbroken. He was an exceptionally kind man. He always fought and stood up for me like nobody else. He will be so greatly missed. My heart goes out to Robin and his family. Heaven definitely gained an angel with this one

Sincerely,
Lori McGurk- Podiatry Residency Coordinator

sandra raciti

August 4, 2025

I am in shock and so VERY sorry to read this, i JUST met him two months ago as a patient with a horrid foot issue that he solved and explained in one minute, he was so kind in both the physical handling of my foot as well as taking the time to explain why my nail was doing what it was doing. I send all of his family and friends a big hug. He will surely be missed.

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Sign Robert Scardina's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

August 28, 2025

Jim O'Connell posted to the memorial.

August 27, 2025

Bob DeNigro posted to the memorial.

August 16, 2025

Carol Ann DiVaio, DPM posted to the memorial.