Obituary of Alessandro Bertoni

Alessandro Bertoni MD “Alex” “Sandro” Fairport, Feb. 20, 2015 age 87, survived by his beloved wife of 60 yrs. Elizabeth, his children Guido (Jannette) Bertoni, Mario Bertoni of FL, granddaughter Alessia Bertoni, and his sister Ada Colzani of Italy. Alessandro was born in Faenza a small city in northern Italy and attended the liceo classic humanist education in high school subjects in Ravenna. He entered the University of Bologna Medical School, the oldest university in the world, graduating in 1952 with a doctor of medicine. After his post graduate work at the university, Doctor Bertoni was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Saint John’s Long Island City Hospital in New York. While working at Saint John’s Dr. Bertoni met his wife Elizabeth, a pharmacist at the hospital. They married within the year and left for a honeymoon in Italy. Dr. Bertoni applied for medical residency in the United States and was accepted at Highland Hospital in Rochester. Dr. Bertoni opened a practice in the City of Rochester and after several years opened another office in Gates. He had a long standing affiliation and privileges with Park Ridge Hospital and Rochester General Hospital before retiring in 1994. Throughout his professional life Dr. Bertoni was involved in many organizations including NASL Rochester Lancers and the Sports Car Club of America Finger Lakes as their race physician which included Watkins Glen Gran Prix racing. He also helped establish the Casa Italiana at Nazareth College and was a radio announcer in Italian language and music programming. Among his many contributions to medicine it is noteworthy to know that Dr. Bertoni’s involvement in The New York State Academy of Family Physicians substantially contributed toward the development of the American Board of Family Medicine which has elevated the quality of our family practice physicians in the United States through board certification. After decades of commitment to the advancement of family medicine, in 1996 Dr. Bertoni was elected to serve as President of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians. At Dr. Bertoni’s request the funeral services and entombment were private. Donations can be made to in the name of Alessandro Bertoni MD to the Golisano Children's Hospital, 300 East River Road, PO Box 278996, Rochester, NY 14627.