Roy J. Cacciaguida, MD

Dr. Cacciaguida died on Monday, August 7, 2023. He was born in Brooklyn, NY on August 13, 1931 to Rocco Cacciaguida and Antoinetta Velardi Cacciaguida. He graduated from NYU in 1953 having completed his pre-med curriculum. Upon graduation, he was drafted into the US Army where he served for two years during the Korean conflict. After discharge, he attained a position in research at Columbia Presbyterian Medical School in Manhattan. In 1956, he entered medical school at the University of Bologna, Italy and completed his studies in 1962. He did his internship and residency in internal medicine and nephrology at Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn and completed his nephrology fellowship in 1967 at the Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, also in Brooklyn. He was appointed Clinical Assistant Attending Physician Department of Medicine Brookdale Hospital in 1967. Dr. Cacciaguida initiated the first hemodialysis program at that hospital. In 1970, he was appointed Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at New York University Medical School.

Dr. Cacciaguida moved to the West Palm Beach area in 1973. He was appointed Chief of Nephrology at St. Mary’s Hospital in 1975 and over a period of three years, was able to develop a dialysis center at St. Mary’s Hospital that went from one unit to six units by 1977. At that point, through a generous gift from his patients, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Schwartz, the 19 station Arnold & Marie Schwartz Dialysis Center was opened and dedicated to him at St. Mary’s Hospital. This was one of the very few not-for-profit dialysis centers in the entire state of Florida. Dr. Cacciaguida served as the medical director from 1977 to 2002.

Dr. Cacciaguida was elected as Vice Chairman of Medical Staff at Good Samaritan Medical Center in 1981 and then elected Chairman of Medical Staff in 1982, following which he was appointed as Chief of Staff from 1983 to 1989.

Dr. Cacciaguida was also active in his community, serving on boards of the Norton Gallery of Art, the Palm Beach Kidney Association, Palm Healthcare Foundation, Interfaith Health and Wellness Association, the Center for Family Services, the Preserve at Ironhorse Country Club charity event and the Cancer Alliance for Help and Hope. He was also a past member of the Palm Beach Flagler Rotary Club. On Fridays, when his health permitted, he was engaged in the food ministry of St. Edward Church in Palm Beach, making over 500 sandwiches which were distributed to homeless facilities in the county along with other food products. He and his co-chair, Mary Ierardi, initiated a series of health and wellness lectures at St. Edward Church. The lectures were given by local medical specialists and were taped. The DVDs were then used by Interfaith Health and Wellness nurses in the churches and synagogues throughout the county.

Dr. Cacciaguida loved his profession, his family and his many friends. He loved and respected his patients, and in return, they loved and respected him. He enjoyed reading mystery novels, the theater, movies and traveling on cruises. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Joseph, his sister Jean Ruvolo, his brother Peter, and his partner of 44 years, Hal Johnstone. He is survived by his nieces and nephews, Louis Ruvolo, Rose Ann Orecchio (Anthony), Antoinette Ruvolo-Roy (Richard), and Joann Cacciaguida-Wiedre (Alan); and his sister-in-law, Ann Cacciaguida. He is also survived by many great nieces and nephews as well as great-great nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 14, 2023 at 10 am at St. Edward Church in Palm Beach with Father Glenn Pothier officiating. Interment will follow at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Cancer Alliance for Help and Hope, Inc., 44 Cocoanut Row T 10, Palm Beach, Fl 33480. Celebration of Life will be held on September 15, 2023 from 5-6:30 pm at the Preserve at Ironhorse Country Club.