- Date Of Birth: July 24, 1932
- Date Of Death: October 23, 2014
- State: Michigan
Dr. Bernard Charles “Bernie” DeLeo, 82, died peacefully Thursday morning, October 23 in his home at The Fountains retirement community in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Bernie was born July 24, 1932 in Altoona, PA, to the late David and Mary Romadella DeLeo. He is the grandson of the founder of the Altoona Buccinese Society, Giuseppe Di Leo and the great grandson of founder, Paolo Lepore.
He graduated from Altoona Catholic High School in 1950. During his senior year, a football injury landed him in the hospital, where he became fascinated with the doctors and nurses. He decided right then to become a doctor. He won a scholarship to St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe, PA and studied Pre-Med, graduating in 1954. He continued on to medical school at St. Louis University, where he would meet his future wife, Antoinette “Toni” Trivisonno, a graduate nursing student.
They were wed on June 14, 1958 after their graduations. Thus began a career in medicine that spanned many years and cities. Bernie became an anesthesiologist first at the Cleveland Clinic. He then became the first anesthesiologist and Acting Head of the Department of Anesthesia at St. John Hospital in Cleveland. During their time in Cleveland, Bernie and Toni completed their family of six children. In June, 1969, Bernie moved his practice to academic medicine at The Ohio State University and his family to Columbus. He enjoyed his time Ohio State and continued his lifelong affiliation with the Buckeyes as an avid OSU football and Marching Band fan. In 1978, he accepted the position of Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Albany Medical College and Head of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Albany Medical Center.
He worked there until 1986, when they decided to move back to St. Louis, a place they both fondly recalled from their courtship years. Bernie took the position of Clinical Director of Anesthesiology at Washington University’s Barnes Hospital until his retirement in June of 1996. Bernie loved working in medicine and especially teaching; his favorite case was providing anesthesia to a 275-lb. silverback gorilla named Fred at the St. Louis Zoo. Bernie and Toni retired to Sun City Center, FL, in 1997. Bernie stayed active as a volunteer, he loved working with the Sawdust Engineers making toys for school teachers, publishing a community newsletter, filing income taxes for community members with AARP, and in various officer positions for their local homeowners association. Bernie was known for his upbeat personality and sense of humor. He was a people person who thrived on social contact, and always had a joke for every occasion. A lifelong practicing Catholic, he believed in helping people, always placing others before himself. He started a scholarship fund in his name at St.
Vincent’s College to help students afford SVC as he was helped. He was devoted to his wife, Toni, and took care of her as her health declined in her later years. They were happily married for 54 years until her death in November 2012. Following Toni’s passing, Bernie moved to Kalamazoo, MI to be near his eldest daughter, Cathy, who would care of him in his final years. Bernie is survived by his chiidren, Cathy Mark Uggeri, Catie, Christine, Michael & Andrew Uggeri of Mattawan, MI; Beth Don Gibbs, Carla, Lauren & Emma Gibbs of Omaha, NE; Bernard Charles Rebecca Hill DeLeo, Jr., Charles & Sophia DeLeo of Falls Church, VA; John DeLeo, Jack & Mark DeLeo of Columbus, OH; Paul Amanda DeLeo, Louis & Francis DeLeo of Catonsville, MD; and Claire Louise DeLeo Michael Wand of Boulder, CO.
Also surviving are his brothers, Joseph DeLeo, of Bellmawr, NJ and Dennis Mary Kay DeLeo of Altoona, PA, and sister-in-law, Tina Gartland of Mentor, OH as well as many nieces, nephews and their children.
