Obituary of George D. Comerci

George D. Comerci, M.D., December 3, 1931 to February 10, 2013 George was called home on February 10th, 2013. He was 81 years old. The eighth and last child of Italian immigrant Giacomo Comerci and his wife Josephine D'Andrea, George was born and raised in Newark, NJ. He excelled in school, eventually becoming president of his senior class at Barringer High School. There he met his future wife, Jane Ruth Zaleski, whom he married in 1953. A talented saxophonist, George led his own jazz band, The Blue Jackets, in high school and later joined the Joe Aldi Big Band, a source of additional income during college and medical school. George graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in pharmacy and later from medical school at Temple University. He served his country as an intern with the US Public Health Service and then trained in pediatrics under the tutelage of Waldo E. Nelson at St. Christopher’s Hospital in Philadelphia. After practicing briefly in private practice, George joined the Pediatrics Department of St. Louis University. Subsequently, in 1969 he joined the faculty of the fledgling Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona Medical School where he eventually dedicated his career to establishing the sub-specialty field of Adolescent Medicine. After twenty years with the University, he assumed medical directorship of Desert Hills Center for Youth and Families. In addition to his important role at the College of Medicine, George was very involved locally and nationally in the American Academy of Pediatrics, eventually serving as president of this organization from 1994-1995. Throughout his career he was the recipient of multiple awards and honors, the most prestigious of these being The Clifford G. Grulee Award. Unfortunately in 2002, shortly after retirement, he suffered a disabling stroke which ended his active involvement in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. George leaves a rich legacy in medicine having influenced many generations of health care professionals. He is remembered as an outstanding clinician, academician and medical leader. He is also remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by the love of his life, Jane, his wife of 59 years as well as his eldest son, George, his daughter Janice, his youngest son Andrew and his seven grandchildren: Shirley, Andrew, Cheralynn, Daniel, Matthew, Jennifer and George. Visitation will be held this Friday, Feb. 15 from 5-8 p.m. at Bring's Funeral Home, 6910 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson. Services will take place on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. at Immanuel Presbyterian, 9252 E. 22nd St., Tucson. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to the children’s charity of their choice.