IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Dr. Ronald Gentile ‘83: A “Vison” for Helping and for Healing at Home and Abroad Ronald Gentile 1983 MD, FACS, FASRS is Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of the Ocular Trauma Service (posterior segment), and Coordinator of the Retina Service at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (NYEEI) affiliated with New York Medical College. He is also an attending surgeon at Winthrop University Hospital on Long Island with a local satellite office. Dr. Gentile dedicates his time to clinical ophthalmic care, research, teaching, and humanitarian work. He is a retinal specialist and surgeon with expertise in diabetic eye disease, retinal vascular disorders, macular diseases, ultrasonography, UBM, retinal detachments and ocular trauma. Ronald was a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the School of Medicine at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn. He completed his internship at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and his ophthalmology residency at the NYEEI. He performed his Retina Fellowship at the prestigious Kresge Eye Institute in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Gentile has been consistently Barbara Vassino-Parilla 1978 has been married 23 years to Frank Parilla and they have 3 teenage sons. She is a Physician and earned her M.D. from SUNY at Stony Brook. Barbara is the Director, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Gina Yacenda-Dean 1978 is the Manager of Labor & Delivery Units at three major Long Island Hospitals. She is the mother of five children and resides in Woodbury, L.I.
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1980s Joan Patzelt-Guerra 1981 is currently working part-time as a pharmacist for CVS. She and her husband, Joe, have five children who are all Prepsters: Michael ‘07, Janine ’ 09, Victoria ‘10, Christina ‘ 13 and Dana ‘17. Raymond Alma 1983 won the National Cartoonist Society Award for “Best Illustration” in 2010. Over the last two years he’s traveled as a volunteer with the USO, drawing for the troops. As a USO volunteer he’s been to Germany, Iraq, Kuwait, Turkey and Kosovo. Angelo Baccellieri 1983 is married with two children and is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center.
listed as one of the Best Doctors in New York (Castle Connolly Medical Ltd.) and New York Super Doctors, recommended by his peers. He has been and continues to be a principle investigator for many trials, devoted to scientific research. Some of these trials have resulted in the newest therapies used today that save the vision of thousands of patients worldwide. He has over a hundred publications, with many published in peer-review journals describing pathophysiological concepts, novel surgical techniques, and diagnostic tests for ocular diseases, helping him remain on the cutting edge while advancing his field. Dr. Gentile serves as a reviewer for many scientific ophthalmic journals and is a member of the American Board of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, Macula Society, and the New York Ophthalmological Society. He is past president of the New York Academy of Medicine, Ophthalmology Section and continues to be active within organized medicine. He has been a mentor to hundreds of young doctors and ophthalmologists, who he has helped train on both the art and science of medicine. He is also involved in leading humanitarian missions (operationrestorevision.org) to Africa, Asia, and Latin America to help those in need
accompanied by one of his best friends who also is an alumnus of St. Francis Prep, Ivanhoe Gadpaille ‘83. Operation Restore Vision is a not-for-profit chapter of ISMS made up of a team of highly skilled ophthalmologists and eye care professionals. They distinguish themselves from other eye care teams by the scope of their eye care delivery and ability to teach. Their mission is to restore vision and prevent blindness to patients in underdeveloped and poor countries. In addition to supporting free eye care, they also teach and train local medical professionals to carry on the work. Ron says, They hope to positively impact the lives of those going blind who feel forgotten or have nowhere to turn while bridging the gap of ethnic, political, and religious differences. Ron founded the ISMS-Operation Restore Vision in Nepal chapter in 2009 and currently serves as the president. Learn more about it from their web site: operationrestorevision. org Ronald’s professional and academic achievements have distinguished him in his profession. His humanitarian efforts are a fine reflection of our Franciscan values. St. Francis Prep is proud to call him a Terrier!
Jeanette Baer-Femia 1983 is a nine time NYC Marathoner, Lake Placid Iron Man finisher; Brooklyn Bridge swim and Empire State Building run-up participant.
Kelley Hughes-Bacci 1983 is married for 25 years to Daniel Bacci ‘82. They are the proud parents of Ryan ’10, who attends Iona College and Connor ‘15 who is currently studying at Prep.
Colleen Browne-Magarian 1983 is happily married for 16 years to Mike, who she met as a college undergrad. Their two beautiful daughters are in middle school and keeping them busy with their sports and activities, while she works parttime from home. She’s been participating in a local Connecticut rowing club for three years and volunteering at the soup kitchen.
Lisa Morana-Ferrara 1983 is teaching Kindergarten in the Roosevelt UFSD. She married Peter Ferrara in 1988 and they have two wonderful sons, Steve who is currently attending Sacred Heart University, and Matt who is a sophomore at Plainedge High School.
Josephine Buttafuoco 1983 is working to end segregation of children with developmental delays/ disabilities (child advocate) in educational settings. Mary Curley-Leptak 1983 has been married to her husband Joe since 1991. She loves teaching and is on the Board of Directors of American Association of Teachers of Spanish & Portuguese (Metro N.Y. Chapter) and serves as President of the Westchester Chapter of American Association of Teachers of French. Jeanne Fitzpatrick 1983 says hello to all her fellow classmates! She is sorry that she could not attend the reunion but would love to hear from them and get together at another time. She lives in Rockland County NY and spends her down time traveling or with family and friends.
Steven Schidrich 1983 was a teacher at Hilton Head Island High School and now he is an Assistant Principal at Bluffton Middle School. Michelle Stimpfel-Zurita 1983 has two children: John (SFP class of 2011) and Angel (11 years old). She was an NYPD Police Officer for 19 years In 1999 she graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice Summa Cum Laude. Susan Guzzardo-Ronan 1984 is a professor at New York Medical College and a Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy. Frances “Frenchie” Robles 1986 joined the New York Times as a Miami-based national and foreign correspondent. She would be happy to hear from old friends. You can find her on Twitter @ FrancesRobles.