Robert C. Sarno, M.D.

December 06, 1945 - January 07, 2023

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Obituary for Robert C. Sarno, M.D.

Dr. Robert C. Sarno of Boston and Edgartown, MA died on January 7, 2023 from complications of a fall.

Robert was born on December 6, 1945, to Roseanne Shomphe and Alfred Nicholas Sarno. He attended Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, MA, and graduated from Tufts University and Tufts University School of Medicine with high honors. He completed an internship in internal medicine and a residency in radiology, both at Tufts-New England Medical Center (NEMC). From 1974-76, he was a staff radiology faculty member at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School. It was during the period at MGH that he met his future wife, Dr. Deborah A. Hall, then a radiology resident. They married on May 1, 1982. In 1976, he returned as faculty to the Department of Radiology at NEMC where he rose to Professor of Radiology and remained on the faculty until his retirement. Robert led an active professional life. He was a respected radiologist. Robert became Dean of Admissions after serving as a member of the Tufts School of Medicine Admissions Committee for 25 years. He is remembered fondly by thousands of medical students and radiology trainees and was awarded 18 consecutive annual teaching awards by them. He served as President of the Medical Staff of New England Medical Center Hospitals and was a councilor of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

As a child, he and his mother spent summers in her native Cape Breton, Canada. It was there that he learned the French language from his cousins; he remained fluent in French throughout his life.

In 1978, he and several friends purchased properties on Martha’s Vineyard. Robert, Debby, Nick and Jane spent weekends and summer vacations there and built a community of island friends.

In retirement, Robert became Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Martha’s Vineyard Hospice and was dedicated to its mission. His interests were eclectic. He completed the NYT daily crossword puzzle. He enjoyed Viking River Cruises, playing the harp and writing limericks. He was an inveterate story teller. Robert made a real effort to be all-inclusive: one of his favorite introductions of someone new to his circle was, “Please meet my new best friend!”

Robert was predeceased by his mother Roseanne (Shomphe) and father Alfred Nicholas Sarno.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Deborah A. Hall; son, Nicholas Hall (Shauna) Sarno and grandson, William; and daughter, Jane (Michael) Sullivan and grandchildren Bobby and Clara; and his sister-in-law Katherine Hall (Terry Johnson) and nephew, Benjamin (Kylee) Gurney and many cousins.

Robert’s life was enriched by the appearance of grandchildren: Bobby, William and Clara and the hope for more. He also had a special relationship with his two paternal aunts, Lee and Clara, whom he cherished and cared for until their deaths. Most important to Robert was his family. His close relationship with Debby and his concern and affection for his children and grandchildren were evident in his day-to-day interactions. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Visiting Hours, Friday, January 13, 2023, in the Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Ave, EAST MILON SQUARE, from 4-8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Saint Agatha’s Church, Milton, at 10:30 AM. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Hospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard through its website: https://hospiceofmv.org or to Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard, PO Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

Services

13 Jan

Visiting Hours

04:00 PM - 08:00 PM

Dolan Funeral Homes and Cremation Services - EAST MILTON SQUARE 460 Granite Avenue Milton, MA 02186 Get Directions »
14 Jan

Mass of Christian Burial

10:30 AM

Saint Agatha Church 432 Adams Street Milton, MA 02186 Get Directions »
by Obituary Assistant

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Condolences

  • January 13, 2023

    As a lifelong fellow teacher of Radiology, I have always admired Bob's total commitment to the education of residents, fellows and medical students. His passion for teaching, for Radiology and for Tufts Medical School were apparent to all, as well as his honesty, self-deprecating humor and wonderful humanity. He was a beacon of light for us all and will be sadly missed. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Debbie, his children and grandchildren.

  • January 12, 2023

    For many years, the highlight of my inpatient rounds with my team was my daily trip to radiology to review the films on my patients with Bob (and his partner Steve Bloom). They led to better care for our patients, improved teaching for me and my team and a lot of good humor and insight into a whole variety of topics. Bob's interaction with his clinical colleagues set a standard which I have tried to maintain. We have dearly missed him since his retirement and even more now that he is no longer with us. My condolences to his family.

  • January 12, 2023

    What an incredible physician. I remember when I was a Tufts I would hope he would be in the reading room when I brought my team down for "X-ray rounds" he genuinely loved teaching.

  • January 12, 2023

    My sincere condolences to his family on your terrible loss. He was a great human being and I will miss him.

  • January 11, 2023

    Some of my best memories as an intern, resident and staff member were conversations with Bob Sarno. He was always willing to review each case and film in great detail and then give you the big clinical picture. I always walked away from those interactions feeling more knowledgeable and my patients definitely benefited from his masterful interpretations. He did this all with a smile and sometimes with the greatest of wit - sometimes I would be hysterical laughing at his jokes, which he told with a bit of a wink of the eye. Those moments of levity as an intern were priceless. I extend my deepest sympathies to Deborah and his family at this difficult time.

  • January 10, 2023

    I was a med student at Tufts from 1977-81, and Dr. Sarno was one of the best teachers I ever had. Unfailingly funny, warm and upbeat.....and a GREAT storyteller. I still remember him leaving my group in convulsive laughter with his story about his determination as a medical intern not to let the long hours interfere with his social life until the time he fell asleep in a men's room stall. He was just a wonderful warm human being and a great role model. My sincere condolences to his family on your terrible loss. He was a mensch.

  • January 10, 2023

    From my perspective as a professional colleague, Bob Sarno he had all the attributes one would want in a physician: knowledge, humanity and availability. He was always eager to review yet another set of X-ray films with me, much to the benefit of my patient's health--and with learning benefits for me. It's sad indeed to say farewell to such a wonderful and sharing human being. Andrew Plaut

  • January 10, 2023

    Dear Dr. Hall I am very sorry about Bob's passing, and I wish to extend my deepest condolences to you and your family. Bob´s weekly rheumatology/radiology conference was a highlight of our program. Seeing him cheered us up, and his ability to pick the most relevant films from those huge folders, question us and clearly explain the relevant findings was something to see. He never failed to show up. I left Tufts in late 1993 and learned today of his important contributions to the Medical School. I can envision him as the Dean of Admissions, a major reason to attract top candidates. In my memories of those days, Bob is and will remain, surrounded by a worm glow and my deepest gratitude. Juan J. Canoso, Mexico City

  • January 10, 2023

    You were the best Dr. Sarno, I think of you often; thanks for always being there for us residents. -Warren S. Krackov, MD

  • January 10, 2023

    He was a a gifted radiologist and his personality beamed a welcome message to all. I first new him when he was a Resident at TUFTS under Chief Robert Paul. I was a Tufts Medical Student (TUSM '75) working with Barbara Carter MD to assemble the images collected over decades by Dr Alice Ettinger into a teaching file. Bob was always warm and helpful and we maintained our collegium for decades. Ted Butler MD FIDSA

  • January 10, 2023

    Bob was my colleague at Tufts for many years, and I admired his work, both as a brilliant radiologist and a caring Dean of Admissions at TUSM. Bob was fast-talking, funny, smart, warm, kind, compassionate and a delightful colleague and friend. He seemed to have found a 25th hour in every day, because he was involved in so many projects, and accomplished so much. As Dean of Admissions, he assigned us huge amounts of work, but we could never get mad, because we knew Bob did twice as much as any of us. He was the kind of colleague who made me look forward to coming to work, and made me proud to be part of the faculty at Tufts University School of Medicine. I will miss him greatly, and feel lucky to have known him.