Remembering Dr. Demetrio Sturiale: A Tribute to Humanity in Medicine
Ah, the bittersweet symphony of remembering great minds like Dr. Demetrio Sturiale. It sounds like the setup to a tearful rom-com, doesn’t it? But instead of a love story, we find ourselves celebrating a life devoted to healing, laughter, and yes, a nuanced sprinkle of irony – the perfect combo of heartfelt and heartwarming!
Yesterday’s ceremony was a cocktail of emotion, complete with family members, doctors, and a bunch of folks who probably would have preferred to be anywhere else, but had the good sense to show up and honor the legend himself. A new street in the Santa Caterina district now bears his name, a fitting tribute to a man who walked the narrow line between professionalism and humanity for over 50 years. Which is more than I can say for my idea of a ‘balanced lifestyle’.
So, who was this Demetrio Sturiale chap? Born in 1930, he started off volunteering with the Red Cross and Avis Reggina as a starry-eyed student, probably thinking he’d just be fighting off the common cold. Little did he know, he would go on to become one of the pioneers behind the transfusion center of Reggio’s hospital! Talk about turning the world of medical science on its head—not exactly your average routine shift at the hospital!
For an impressive 50 years, he ran one of the city’s oldest clinical analysis labs. I mean, who needs a time machine when you can bring your very own ‘Dr. Who’ to the present day? He had the unique ability to bring solace even in the darkest moments of illness. He wasn’t just a doctor; he was like the medical version of Batman—dashing through life with his stethoscope and ready with a quip that would make even the most serious patient crack a smile.
The ceremony featured heartfelt tributes from those who knew him well. Pino Cuzzocrea, a municipal councilor, unveiled a plaque that I can only imagine must have been heavier than my guilt for not calling my own mother enough. Dr. Domenico Tromba, visibly emotional as he spoke, delivered quite the tribute to his father-in-law. After all, how many of us can say we’ve shared DNA with our heroes? Tromba described Sturiale as a second father, a mighty compliment that cuts through the usual platitudes.
“Since his passing, our city has lost a man who truly acted for others,” Tromba stated, gripping the hearts of everyone present. I mean, who knew the municipal council could turn into such an emotional soap opera? They should have handed out tissues along with those honorary plaques—because it was a tearjerker indeed!
Dr. Pasquale Veneziano, president of the Order of Doctors, chimed in, praising Sturiale’s impact on not just patients but colleagues as well. He was “well-liked and appreciated,” and guess what? He even served as the president of the Medical Association. The man was basically the rock star of the medical community! I imagine him in a lab coat wielding a microphone instead of a scalpel, surrounded by adoring fans—a modern-day medical Elvis!
Even Dr. Giuseppe Zampogna, the vice-president of the Order, spoke up about how Sturiale represented the very history of the Order and Medicine. Apparently, he was a transfusionist who had lots of hobbies—like, are you ready? Basketball! Yes, folks, today’s lesson is that being a doctor doesn’t mean you can’t shoot some hoops on the side. Talk about multitasking!
But the cherry on this poignant cake? The memories shared by his daughter, Dr. Patrizia Sturiale. In a moment that probably brought the entire crowd to the edge of blubbering, she described her dad as not just a doctor but “our compass, our lifeline, our oak tree.” Isn’t that sweet? If only we could all have such a wonderful analogy for our own fathers—mine just likes to broadcast his favorite soap operas, which doesn’t quite cut it.
As the day wound down, and attendees dried their tears (and possibly still snickered over Sturiale’s trademark irony), it’s clear that his legacy will outlive even the most dramatic of ceremonies. So, let’s raise a toast to Dr. Demetrio Sturiale—a man who transformed the medical field with joy, and yes, that ever-elusive touch of humor. After all, when life gives you lemons, make a transfusion lab, right?
It was a sober ceremony, but full of emotion, which took place yesterday and which saw the participation of family members, friends, administrators and many doctors who have always esteemed the great professionalism and humanity of doctor Demetrio Sturiale to whom a via della città, in the Santa Caterina district, near the former police headquarters.
Who was Demetrius Sturiale? Born in 1930, already as a student he volunteered with the Red Cross and Avis Reggina with which he continued as a hospital doctor. He was one of the pioneers regarding the birth of the transfusion center of our city’s hospital, as well as the owner of one of the oldest and most esteemed clinical analysis laboratories in Reggio, offering his services to the population of Reggio for around 50 years in various roles.
He was president of the Scientific Society, both regional and national, of Clinical Pathologists and then president of the Reggio Host Lions service club. And he was, until his premature death in 2003, a great man who, with professionalism, humility, honesty and cheerfulness, brought a hint of a smile even in the most serious situations due to illness or otherwise.
Pino Cuzzocrea, municipal councilor as well as delegate for personnel and public lighting and as representative of the municipal administration, was responsible for unveiling the plaque. Immediately after the words of the doctor Domenico Tromba, former president of the Order of Doctors of the province of Reggio and current councilor of the same Order, but above all son-in-law of the doctor Sturiale and supporter of the initiative.
“Allow me to express my deep emotion in remembering Demetrio Sturiale, my father-in-law but also my friend and, as I have already written in my book, my second father – begins Tromba, visibly moved – I am aware that the right tribute we are offering to his memory it does not erase, rather it reinforces a profound sense of emptiness that arises from the awareness that since the day of his passing our city has been poorer, because it has lost a man who always acted for others in his professional activities, social initiatives and humanity in the interest of human growth.
Both as a hospital doctor and owner of one of the oldest clinical analysis laboratories and as president of the Medical Association of Reggio Calabria and as president of the Italian Clinical Pathologists Association, he has always conveyed to those who were fortunate enough to know him and collaborate with him the desire to work concretely through professionalism, legality and humility.
Today, being here to remember him with the naming of this street – concludes Doctor Tromba – makes me proud and for this reason I still want to thank the municipal administration in the figure of the mayor Giuseppe Falcomatà for the gift given to me personally, to his family and to all the city and his friends who lost a great man like the doctor Demetrio Sturiale”.
Below is the speech of doctor Pasquale Veneziano, president of the Order of Doctors of the province of Reggio Calabria, who, in thanking the municipal administration for the initiative, outlined the figure of doctor Sturiale, “a well-liked and appreciated doctor both from patients and colleagues, so much so that he was a councilor of the Order for two terms, secretary for another three terms and held the position of president for another two terms. I believe that giving this type of recognition to a citizen of Reggio is one thing of the most beautiful things there could be.
Also for the vice-president of the Order, doctor Giuseppe Zampogna, “Doctor Sturiale represented the history of the Order and of Medicine, as a transfusionist and above all as an orderly. He was an example of ethics and also of sociality, very active in the Lions , passionate about basketball. In short, a well-rounded person and therefore to be taken as an example for young people.”
Even the memory of the doctor Vincenzo Nociti, secretary of the Order, does not differ from a general ‘saudade’ in
regards Sturiale, “a great man who with his wit, intelligence and humility was able, despite his great merits for a man who has reached the highest levels from a professional point of view, to interact, to speak with everyone having respect for the person in himself. He was a great man in this too, a man who loved his family, of great values and who always spent himself for others”.
Also present at the ceremony, among others, was doctor Eduardo Lamberti Castronuovo who recalled a particular aspect of doctor Demetrio Sturiale’s personality, irony. “For me Mimmo Sturiale was a friend, a doctor, a president of the Order of great standing but above all a great man. Because whoever knows how to make irony his reason for living there is no doubt that he is a great character. Because being ironic does not mean making others laugh but reasoning, thinking and giving the best possible interpretation of life.”
Finally, the intervention of his daughter, Dr. Patrizia Sturiale, who thus remembered her father. “He was a husband, a father, a wonderful grandfather who poured out his love and protection. He was our compass, a lifeline, our oak tree. Anyone who had the opportunity to know him knows how special he was, a serious professional, esteemed and with uncommon human qualities, including his overwhelming irony and then his wisdom because he managed to bring out the good and the best in every situation towards everyone.
Today we remember him with nostalgia and affection and on behalf of the family we thank you for your closeness and for sharing this moment which made us so proud and made us truly happy. I thank the municipal administration and my husband who promoted this initiative.”
