Vincent de Lalla, Jr. M.D.

The de Lalla family and the Utica community mourn the passing of Vincent de Lalla, Jr., M.D. Dr. de Lalla passed away on December 5, 2005, age 87. Born in Utica on June 2, 1918, Vincent was the son of the late Vincent and Antonetta (Perillo) de Lalla. Raised and educated locally, he was a graduate of Utica Country Day School, Utica Free Academy, and Hamilton College earning his medical degree from Columbia University. He also received medical training at Syracuse Medical Center. Following his licensure as a physician in 1942, Dr. de Lalla served as a Captain and battalion surgeon with the U.S. Army's 43rd Infantry during its South Pacific campaign in the Philippines and New Guinea. After his military service, Dr. de Lalla received a post-graduate fellowship and did his residency in Cardiology and Internal Medicine at the Rochester School of Medicine Strong Memorial Hospital. On October 6, 1945 he married Mary Jane McCormick in Syracuse, New York. In over sixty years of marriage, they devoted themselves to each other and their children. Over the course of his career as a knowledgeable, trusted and beloved physician, Dr. de Lalla was extremely successful in the field to which he was so dedicated. He was best known as a medical practitioner of extraordinary expertise, encyclopedic knowledge, and prodigious experience. Dr. de Lalla was also a valued, responsible, and dedicated staff member of the hospitals with which he was affiliated. He began his local career in the late 1940's as a Cardiologist and Internist at St. Elizabeth Hospital. Soon thereafter, he was appointed Chief of Medicine at Memorial Hospital in Utica and, shortly after that, he was offered the same position at St. Elizabeth Hospital. He served in this capacity at St. Elizabeth's at various times during the next 30 years as well as concurrently holding the same title for a brief period of time at St. Luke's Memorial Hospital. Early in his professional life, he served as an instructor at the Rochester School of Medicine, first for the Department of Physiology and later for the Department of Medicine. He served as Instructor of Medicine from the inception of the Family Practice Residency Program and at the School of Nursing at St. Elizabeth Hospital. He continued as a teacher until his retirement. Dr. de Lalla more than proved himself as researcher, scholar, and author over the years. He published numerous articles and papers in such influential periodicals as the American Journal of Physiology, the American Heart Journal, the New England Journal of Medicine, and the American Journal of Medicine. Dr. de Lalla also co-authored a book, Clinical Ballistocardiography, which was published by MacMillen in 1952. Dr. de Lalla's first and foremost priorities were always his patients, and the staff and mission of the hospitals he served. Over the course of his professional life, he also held the following positions at St. Elizabeth's: Vice-President and later President of the Medical Staff, Director of the Coronary Care and Director of Intensive Care Units, and Chief of Medicine, Family Practice Residency. Admired and respected for his selfless service in these various staff positions, Dr. de Lalla's contributions spanned more than half a century. Though widely recognized for his administrative skill, his real love was the daily care of his patients. Beyond the care of his own patients, however, Dr. de Lalla made significant and lasting contributions to the medical community. Among these included the teaching and experience he provided as mentor to an entire generation of doctors and nurses; the instrumental role he played in establishing the cardiac cath lab; and the steadfast dedication with which he fought for advanced cardiac care and a high-level program of cardiac surgery in this area. Dr. de Lalla retired in November of 2002. Dr. de Lalla participated in numerous professional and civic organizations including the Oneida County Medical Society which at one time he served as President, the New York State Medical Society, the AMA, the Mohawk Valley Society of Internal Medicine of which he was a founding member, the American Society of Internal Medicine, the Blood Bank Committee of the Oneida County Medical Society which he chaired at one time, the Syracuse Regional Council, and the Health Planning Committee of the Mid-state Health Commission. He also served for a period of time as Director and Vice President of the local Blue Shield, and Director of the Mohawk Valley Coronary Care Nursing Course. Vincent enjoyed a number of hobbies and pastimes. A self-taught musician, he was a classical pianist; as a competitive sportsman and an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed golf, camping, tennis, and squash; and he derived great pleasure from playing cards, especially his favorite game, gin rummy. Dr. de Lalla is survived by his wife, Mary Jane; and his children, Barbara Ann de Lalla-Hoffman and Michael R. Lippacher of Barneveld, Antoinette Elizabeth "Betsy" de Lalla and Gary Christiana of Barneveld, James E. de Lalla and his wife, Jacqueline M. (Blum), of Utica, Kathleen Susan de Lalla of Melbourne, Florida and Utica, and David Robert de Lalla and his wife, Roberta S. (Gilbert) of Charlton, New York. In addition, Dr. de Lalla's survivors include his grandchildren, William Vincent Hoffman, and Wyatt Vincent de Lalla; numerous nieces and nephews, especially acknowledging the Reverend Vincent C. de Lalla, who will be speaking at his uncle's funeral; Vincent's wife, Ann Marie, and their children, Ben Schiro and his family of Florida, Carmelita Lesser and her family of Queens, New York, and Veronica VanEyck and her family of Laurel, Maryland. Also surviving are his cousins, Jacqueline Ciaglia of Utica and her daughter, Patricia and Steve Hague of Boston; and his brother-in-law, James A. McCormick III of Hialeah, Florida. In addition, Dr. de Lalla leaves many close friends and trusted colleagues, especially Sister Rose Vincent with whom he shared a life-long professional relationship and a steadfast friendship. He was predeceased by two sisters and brothers-in-law, Carmelita "Millie" and George Schiro, Esq., and Teresa and Anthony Scaiano; a brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Emanuel and Laura Kathleen de Lalla; and a cousin with whom he was very close, Dr. Pasquale Ciaglia. Visitation will be held on Wednesday (today), from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. By family request, please omit floral offerings. A memorial fund in Dr. de Lalla's honor has been established at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center Foundation for the Cardiac Cath Lab. For those wishing to do so, please consider memorial donations in Vincent's name. A funeral service will be conducted for Dr. de Lalla on Thursday, December 8th at 1:30 p.m. at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Vincent de Lalla, Jr. M.D.

June 2, 1918 - December 5, 2005