When Dr. Joseph Fusia took over as the physician for the Riverview and Penn Hills school districts in 1980, he continued a family tradition that his father, Dr. Donald Fusia, had begun in 1930, when he began his family practice in Oakmont.
Dr. Joseph F. Fusia of Oakmont, died on Thursday, May 8, 2008, in UPMC St. Margaret hospital, near Aspinwall. He was 80.
"Like my grandfather, Dad would spend an entire day at the schools checking both the children and the teachers," said Dr. Fusia's daughter, Megan Wentland of York County.
"My father, like my grandfather, had a gentle way about him that the children, especially the younger children, appreciated."
Having doctors in the family was routine, Megan Wentland said.
"My uncle, Dr. Donald Fusia, served as a MASH doctor in Korea during the Korean War.
"My brother, Tod, is a urologist, and we have an aunt and an uncle who are doctors. My husband, like my father, is a family doctor."
Mrs. Wentland recalled what it was like growing up in the family of a busy and popular doctor whose phone, even when he was at home, never stopped ringing.
"Dad never hesitated in seeing a patient, regardless of the time of day or night," his daughter added. "When necessary, he made house calls.
"It seemed that everyone knew my father," she said. "My brothers and I seldom walked along the streets of Oakmont without being recognized as Dr. Fusia's kids."
Dr. Joseph Fusia was born and raised in Oakmont, one of five sons in the family of Dr. Donald A. Fusia and his wife, Aileen Larson Fusia.
In 1945, prior to graduating from Oakmont High School, Joseph Fusia dropped out and enlisted in the Navy.
"Dad, like all the Fusia men, were devoted to their country and wanted to serve," said Wentland. "Four of the five sons, including my father, served their country.
"Before Dad could go into action, the war ended, and with the help of the GI Bill, Dad entered the University of Pittsburgh where he received his undergraduate degree in 1950.
"A year later, he married my mother, Janet Ramond," Wentland added. "They were neighbors in Oakmont."
Dr. Joseph Fusia practiced family medicine with his partner, Dr. Ted Ferguson, and retired in 1997. Dr. Fusia remained active in the community as a member of the Elks and Kiwanis.
"Dad was very much involved with the activities, sessions and missions of the Oakmont Presbyterian Church," said his daughter. "He learned to play the handbells and joined the church's handbell choir.
"He taught himself to play the bagpipe, besides playing the accordion, piano and harmonica.
"And when he could get away, we vacationed at Lake Chautauqua" in New York.
In addition to his daughter, Megan, Dr. Fusia is survived by his wife, Janet Ramond Fusia; sons, Tod Fusia, of Tampa, Fla., and Tyler Fusia, of Oakmont, eight grandchildren and brothers, Tom Fusia, of Oakmont and Edward Pat Fusia, of Sun City, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Donald A. Jr. and Jack A. Fusia.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the English Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., 378 Maryland Ave., Oakmont. A service will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Oakmont Presbyterian Church.
