Nicholas J. Rotondo Obituary (1937 - 2014)

Born in Easton, Pennsylvania to parents Nicholas J. Sr. and Mary A. Rotondo. Beloved husband of Mary E. Rotondo, loving father of Carol Whittington, Thomas Rotondo, Barbara Bechthold and John Rotondo. Grandfather of Wade Whittington, Dean Whittington, Brandon Rotondo, Sarah Rotondo, Madeline Bechthold and Nicole Bechthold. In 1954, Nick attended Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. There he became a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and later in 1958, during his senior year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. Following graduation, he attended Medical School in Albany, New York where he met his wife of 52 years. After earning his M.D. in 1962, he completed his internship and residency in 1966 at Grace Hospital, Detroit, Michigan. Thereafter, he attended the U. S. Army Medical Field Service School at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas in 1966 and served at Darnell Army Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas. After receiving an honorable discharged in 1968, Nick, Mary and their now 4 children moved to California. From 1968 to 1995 he served as a physician and surgeon of obstetrics and gynecology at Kaiser Permanente in Harbor City, California. By the end of his career he had delivered over 6,000 newborns and had become a Life Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American College of Surgeons. In 1995, he retired to his home in Palos Verdes, California. Later, Nick and Mary moved to Lotus, California. Nick and Mary saw much of the world during their many travels. He loved cinema, especially early Hollywood's Film Noir era, American music from the 40's, 50's and 70's and his beloved Boston Red Sox. In addition to medicine, Nick had a lifelong passion for literature. He amassed an enormous amount of books throughout his life, satisfying his veracious appetite for reading. In his retirement he took to writing. He received his writer's training at UCLA. He soon developed his own unique writing style and had numerous works published in magazines and medical journals. As Life Member of Mensa, he also was a regular contributor to the national Mensa Bulletin. He chaired the Sacramento Writer's SIG and was the president of the El Dorado Writer's Guild. He also established and taught memoir writing classes to seniors. Throughout his life he held a deep respect for our country's military and our freedom. Nick's life exemplified diligence, hard work and sacrifice. He cherished family, traditional family values and believed in giving of himself to the benefit of others. Raised Roman Catholic, he lived a very personal and quiet faith in God. Nick passed peacefully into eternity in the morning hours of May 24, 2014 with his trust in Jesus and his family by his side. His tremendous example, clever wit and anecdotal humor will be both remembered and deeply missed, but his devotion to family will be his greatest legacy. He will forever be in our Field of Dreams. Welcome home Nick... Stories by Nicholas J. Rotondo Ol Bob The Worst and Best Year of My Life Rambo The Babe and The Kid The Poem of My Life