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WHEELING -- Longtime former Wheeling Hospital CEO Samuel Nazzaro passed away on Oct. 20 at age 95, leaving behind a legacy of progress in Wheeling's health sector.
Nazzaro saw many achievements and expansions during his time at the hospital, such as establishing the current location of Wheeling hospital at Medical Park, obtaining certification for the hospital to do open heart surgery and expanding the hospital's cancer center to a regional facility.
Nazzaro also established a regional kidney dialysis center and built the Howard Long Wellness Center and a Continuous Care Center with national recognition.
A statement from WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital acknowledged the service Nazzaro put in over the decades. Nazzaro was employed by the hospital for 39 years, 29 of which were as CEO.
"Mr. Nazzaro was a staunch advocate for rural health care on both a federal and regional stage and had many contributions to that fight," the statement read.
Local internal medicine Dr. Angelo N. Georges worked closely with Nazzaro, particularly in Georges' early days in the field. Georges said Nazzaro shaped his career and provided friendship and mentorship throughout his entire adult life.
The pair initially connected professionally when Nazzaro recruited a young Georges from his residency at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh. As a new doctor in training, the mentorship from Nazzaro was pivotal to his career, Georges said.
"I would not be here practicing if it wasn't for him. He truly recruited me out of the blue, I didn't know him but he was just very innovative and extremely foresightful," Georges said.
Georges said Nazzaro had a special knack for keeping ahead of the constant evolution of the medical field. He always "saw the big picture" and seemed to predict the direction things would be heading, like when he built the two initial Wheeling hospital towers in 1976 despite some pushback from colleagues.
"Everybody laughed at him and said ... they're not going to leave their private offices and come to the hospital," Georges said. "Well, he saw the shift from inpatient medicine to outpatient medicine coming."
Now, rather than crossing town to get to their individual offices, doctors and patients need only cross the hallway. There are currently five towers that make up WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital.
Georges also emphasized Nazzaro's ever-present role in the Wheeling community, citing his involvement with the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival, his regular attendance at local functions and establishments and how personable and hands-on he was with hospital staff.
"He truly was a community man. He didn't hide or (not) want to be seen. He was right out there all the time and in that way, he also influenced me to be more the same," Georges said. "I really enjoyed seeing him on the wards. You know, he'd get out and walk and greet people, talk to his nurses, talk to his staff."
The two men maintained a close relationship before Nazzaro's passing.
Former Vice President of Wheeling Hospital and current Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health Facilities Michael J. Caruso echoed Georges' sentiment about Nazzaro's character.
"There are so many lives that Sam Nazzaro impacted, not only in the Wheeling community but with anyone he came into contact with. Sam always made everyone feel welcomed and genuinely cared about them," the statement from Caruso read.
Caruso also acknowledged the positive work environment that Nazzaro fostered at the Wheeling Hospital.
"He built a working culture that people wanted to be a part of. He mentored so many individuals with their personal lives and always provided insightful knowledge," Caruso said. "Sam was a true visionary and an exceptional leader."