Dr. Richard T. Milazzo Jr.

Dr. Milazzo was born on August 20, 1944 to Dr. Richard T. Milazzo, Sr. and Muriel (Lennon) Milazzo, in New York, NY. He grew up in Fredonia, NY with younger siblings, his sister, Carol, and brother, Paul.

Dr. Milazzo studied at the State University of New York at Buffalo as well as Tufts University Medical School, and went on to complete an internship at Buffalo General Medical Center and residency at Dr. Edward J. Meyer Memorial Hospital (now ECMC), before settling into a long career at Brooks Memorial Hospital.

While practicing medicine at Brooks, Dr. Milazzo was instrumental in building the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) from the ground up, and his bedside manner was second to none. In 1972, the ICU was a four-bed unit. As Director of the ICU, he not only significantly increased the number of patients that could be cared for, but he also engaged and trained the nurses, treating them with the respect they deserved. He was known for his intellect and quick wit, as well as his kindness.

Dr. Milazzo worked tirelessly to ensure that Brooks Memorial Hospital remained open to better serve the patient population in Dunkirk. He was a volunteer and member of several of the hospital’s boards and committees, including their Board of Directors. He was honored with the Exemplary Service Award by the ACHE Recognition Program for Healthcare Leaders of New York. Former New York State Representative Catharine Young called Dr. Milazzo “an outstanding citizen, one who is worthy of the esteem of both the community and the great State of New York.”

After a long career at Brooks and seeing patients in his own office at 515 Swan Street, Dr. Milazzo joined the General Physician PC (GPPC) practice. He worked with GPPC until deciding to retire from medicine in 2023.

Dr. Milazzo’s retirement was short-lived, as he quickly returned to become a member of the GPPC Home Visits Team. He had continued to serve in this role until his untimely passing.

Dr. Milazzo always said that he wished to die doing what he was most passionate about. He loved his work, and indeed, he died on his way to see a patient, when he accidentally pulled into the path of an oncoming tow truck that had the right of way. Fortunately, the tow truck driver was physically unharmed.

As a mark of how connected Dr. Milazzo was to the community, the first person on the scene of the accident in Wethersfield, in Wyoming County, recognized him, because the man had been Dr. Milazzo’s patient.

We can grieve the loss of this wonderful man, but we should also celebrate his long life, and his legacy of care, kindness, and healing. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

Normally when you read about a successful man who absolutely lives for his work and the relationships that are built through that work, it is accompanied by general complaints that he neglects other areas of his life. However, Dr. Milazzo remained a devoted father to three children to his dying day.

He shared his love of music with them from the very beginning. Earliest memories are of dancing, as he played the guitar and sang. As the children got older, his daughter would join him and play piano (rather poorly). His kindness, joy, support, and guidance remained a constant in his children’s lives through the decades.

His love of music continued throughout his life, singing in the St. Elizabeth Anne Seton choir, playing the ukulele, making up clever songs (“Bob’s Buns”, anyone?), and performing in folk music performances.

He also relished biking. He was an avid cyclist, and at some point he began a tradition of biking a mile per year he was alive on each birthday, well into his 70s. Years ago, he even biked to Brooks Memorial Hospital to see patients, even though his home and office were only a block away. It was his favorite mode of transportation, with kayaking as a close second.

He also maintained a fascination with trains throughout his life, painting the train cars of his childhood and setting up his own model train set in his later years. He enjoyed playing with the trains in his home with his best friend’s grandson, Orion (who called him “Grampy”), and he also taught Orion how to play the ukulele. In this way, Dr. Milazzo got to feel like a kid again, as he saw the joy and wonder in his young friend’s eyes.

After his death, hundreds of members of the public reached out to Dr. Milazzo’s close friends and family, to tell them how much he had meant to them. So many people recounted times when Dr. Milazzo saved their life, or the life of a loved one. He would never have talked openly about these incidents, but he quietly helped people, saved people, and stuck around to make sure they were okay. Even on his 80th birthday, when he had taken the day off, he kept his ringer on and answered every patient’s call, even as it was getting close to midnight.

He loved his community, and the community loved and appreciated him in turn. He never wanted to leave the area, and was so happy to be around people he’s known for generations. In light of this connection, if you would prefer to leave a donation in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Dunkirk Library or to the Dunkirk Food Pantry.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, September 30, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home; 736 Central Avenue; Dunkirk, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 11 a.m. Burial services will be held in private.

Dr. Milazzo is survived by his three children, James Milazzo, Julie (Dr. Michael Newmark) Milazzo, Paul Milazzo, and grandson, Paul Milazzo Jr., as well as Dr. Milazzo’s younger brother, Dr. Paul (Anne Marie) Milazzo, Uncle Sam (Norma) Milazzo and beloved cousins, nephews, nieces, and their children.

He is also survived by his longtime companion and traveling partner, Joanne Harper.

He also leaves behind his best friend, former office manager, and next door neighbor, Jami Babcock, who he loved like a daughter to his last breath.