Dr. Curtis in 1973
The Department of Anesthesiology is saddened to report the death of Dr. Gabriel Curtis on Sept. 22, 2015. Dr. Curtis was an anesthesiologist at New York Hospital from 1965 until 2005.
Raised in the Crestwood section of Yonkers he graduated from Fordham University and New York Medical College. He was proud to have served as a medical officer on the Aircraft Carrier Enterprise following which he entered residency in anesthesiology at Cornell University Medical Center under the tutelage of Dr. Joseph F. Artusio, Jr.
Dr. Curtis took particular delight in presiding over the department’s holiday season luncheons in the operating rooms for many years where he dispensed fried chicken and served sections from six-foot hero sandwiches from Manganaro’s Deli in Yonkers. Gabe is remembered also for his great generosity to various support staff.
Following his retirement, Dr. Curtis resided in a rural area of Pennsylvania, Chester County. He is buried at Union Hill Cemetery in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania along with Civil War dead. This would have pleased him as an avid and patriotic student of American history. His survivors include his wife Elaine, daughters, Kim Venditto and Kris Irey and son, Robert.
The family has requested that any donations in his honor be directed to the “Wounded Warrior Project”.
A service is planned for him in New York on Sunday, November 1, 1-4 pm, in The Tap Room, 16 Depot Square, Tuckahoe, NY 10707 (914-337-6941).
Source: 1973 archival photo courtesy Weill Cornell Medical Center Archives.