Joseph T. Anzalone

1931 - 2016

Joseph T. Anzalone
Sept 1, 1931 - Feb 2, 2016
Santa Cruz, CA
Joseph T. Anzalone, MD, a retired obstetrician, gynecologist, and infertility specialist, passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, in Santa Cruz, California. He was 84. During his career, he delivered nearly 14,000 babies, one of whom he delivered on the front seat of his Buick outside of Dominican Hospital.

Born and raised in Belle Vernon, PA, Joseph was the son of Dominick and Anna Anzalone. He was a 1949 graduate of Belle Vernon High School. While in high school he played football and was a lifeguard at the community pool.

Dr. Anzalone earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA, during which time he was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity, and played the clarinet in Pitts' marching band. He married his high school sweetheart in 1955. He went on to graduate from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School in 1957. After completing his internship at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and his residency at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, Dr. Anzalone joined the Navy where he served as a lieutenant commander. He began his medical career at the Quonset Point naval base in North Kingstown, RI. Shortly after his son was born at the naval station, the young family moved to California.

Dr. Anzalone established his solo practice in obstetrics and gynecology in Santa Cruz, California in 1964. In 1972, he and two other physicians founded Harbor Medical Group, in Santa Cruz, where he practiced medicine for the next 29 years.

Dr. Anzalone was devoted to his patients, his community, and to Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz. While providing outstanding care for his patients, he also shared his clinical expertise with his colleagues. Upon receiving an Excellence in Healthcare Award from the Santa Cruz Medical Society in 2007, Joseph remarked, "There are many important keys to success in my field, but one seems most important – to be available to my patients and to my physician colleagues." He was always very generous with his time. In fact, the family's number was listed in the Santa Cruz phone book throughout his career, and his patients would call the house at all hours for his advice.

Dr. Anzalone served as a Santa Cruz County Medical Society Board Member and President, a Medical Staff Leader and President, and then as Board Member and President at Dominican Hospital. He was instrumental in the construction of a dedicated obstetrical operating room in the obstetrical unit at Dominican, and was a champion for Dominican Hospital's original Level 2 neonatal intensive care unit, opened in 1979. The Dominican Hospital Medical Library is named in Dr. Anzalone's honor. He was devoted to his church and community, volunteering every Thursday morning at the Santa Cruz County prenatal clinic.

Dr. Anzalone was an avid San Francisco 49ers fan, a car aficionado, a pilot, a keen joke teller, and a lover of sport dogs. The Anzalone family always had two dogs, which were only Setters and Labs.

In 2001, Dr Anzalone retired, but not before one very special birth – just a few years prior to retirement, he delivered his granddaughter, Kaylee Jo. A profile that appeared in the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that after 37 years, Dr. Anzalone would still tear up at the miracle of birth, with one colleague commenting, "He has a heart of gold."

Dr. Anzalone is survived by his wife; his son, Mark, and daughter-in-law, Kathy, of Ben Lomond, CA; his daughter, Hallie Carl, of Santa Cruz, CA; and his four grandchildren, Brook, Noah, Kaylee Jo, and Alexandra.

A private mass was held at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Mission Santa Cruz, on Thursday, February 4, with a private burial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. Anzalone's name to the Dominican Hospital Foundation - Dignity Health, or to The Michael J. Fox Foundation.


View the online memorial for Joseph T. Anzalone