Joseph Anthony Decenzo MD

final days, he was surrounded by his family, close friends and his loving caregivers Marie and Sharon, all of whom

were touched by his very memorable life.

Dr. DeCenzo was born on March 20, 1930 to Sicilian immigrant parents Ralph DeCenzo and Rose Genovese. Joe

became a lover of Big Band and Jazz music and joined the marching band in MacKees Rock, Pa. playing the

Clarinet. His passion for music carried on after his move to Miami forming a band called “the Doctors”.

Dr. DeCenzo went on to Medical School the University of Pittsburgh, where he graduated as the Valedictorian of his

class in 1955. Proudly, he wore this school ring until his death. He went on to do his medical training at Tulane

University in New Orleans and worked under the watchful eye of world-renowned OBGYN surgeon Dr. Conrad

Collins, who introduced and popularized safe deliveries of babies to at risk mothers through Cesarean section. Dr.

DeCenzo brought this procedure into his practice in Miami in 1961.

Dr. DeCenzo quickly became the go to OBGYN with his expertise in this procedure. He opened his practice in 1961

with Dr. Robert Cassidy and thereafter hand picked his subsequent medical partners--whom Dr. DeCenzo identified

for their brilliance while they rotated through Jackson Memorial Hospital where Dr. DeCenzo taught UM Medical

Students. The first of these partners was Dr. Terry Reisman in 1973, followed by Dr. Spencer Kellogg and last, but

surely not least, Dr. Omar Pasalodos, who would therafter become his son in law in 1991. Omar and his beloved

father in law, whom he called Paparazzo remained very close up until Omar's untimely passing in 2011.

Dr. Joseph DeCenzo was named by the 4th year medical students as Teacher of the Year many, many times and

had several medical school yearbooks dedicated to him. He also held a Position as the President of the OBGYN

Society, and was a member of the William A Little Association. Joe also belonged to coveted mens group “the

Escalapians” and the Italian mens group “Unico”.

Dr. DeCenzo had a quirky and quick sense of humor, enjoyed sharing jokes, particularly when email became

popular. He loved to hunt and fish, most often with his son in law Omar. He was also very proud of being one of the

leading expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases in the area of OBGYN, working with mega-lawyers Stanley

Rosenblatt, Sheldon Schlesinger and Neil Roth, all of whom respected his opinion and counted on his medical

expertise. Dr. DeCenzo even assisted with the chapter on expert witnesses in Mr. Rosenblatt's book titled "Trial

Lawyer".

Dr. DeCenzo was survived by his 5 children, Diane, Ralph, Lisa, Lori and Rosemary, his 9 Grandchildren, Amber,

Tony, Brittany, Omar Joseph, Kelsey, Zachary, Madison, Portia and Houston and 5 (and one in the oven) Great-

Grandchildren.

Joe was loved by his family, respected by his colleagues, and appreciated by his patients. There are few families in

the southern end of Miami-Dade County who were not impacted by Dr. DeCenzo's medical skills, either through his or

his disciples' caring for a mother or daughter, or by bringing a new child into the world. Joe will be missed deeply but

never forgotten. He was one of a kind and imprinted in our hearts forever. Paparazzo, your beloved Omar is waiting

to welcome you to the kingdom of heaven for a job well done.

The Viewing will be held at Caballero Rivera Funeral Home at 3344 SW 8th St. , Miami, FL 33135 on Friday Sept.

22nd from 6:00PM to 10:00PM.

The Entombment will be held on Saturday Sept. 23rd at 11:30 AM at Woodlawn Cemetery 3260 SW 8th St., Miami

FL 33135.

Donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Havana, MIAMI, FL. Arrangements under the direction of Caballero Rivero Little Havana Funeral Home