Gregorio Clemente Brevetti, M.D., the son of Italian immigrants who came through Ellis Island, died November 15, 2020, peacefully at his home in Park Slope surrounded by loved ones. He was 95 years old.
Dr. Brevetti was born in New York City on March 20, 1925 to Dr. Salvatore Brevetti and Ester Brevetti (nee Oreste) and was the eldest of three siblings. He spent his formative years in Italy and graduated from the University of Naples Medical School. During his studies, he met Teresa Morrone, a young lady from the nearby town of Mondragone, who would pursue her own studies in pharmaceutical sciences. The two married after a nine-year courtship and had a love affair that spanned some seven decades.
Settling with Teresa in East Harlem, Dr. Brevetti returned to the United States in 1950. Many years later, he liked to tell his children the story of getting off the boat in New York Harbor from Italy with only a suitcase and 25 cents in his pocket. “Anything is possible here with hard work,” he would often muse while recalling earlier days as a struggling physician in the inner city. After several years in Harlem, Dr. Brevetti relocated with his family to Carroll Street in Brooklyn, where he lived for nearly 60 years and would ultimately spend his final days.
While in Brooklyn, after three years of military service, Dr. Brevetti trained as a resident in general surgery at Methodist Hospital and as a resident in thoracic surgery at King’s County Hospital. During his time at Methodist Hospital, Dr. Brevetti served as the Chief of the General Surgical Service, the Acting Chief of Thoracic Surgery, and as Chairman of numerous hospital committees. In 2006, he was chosen for the Lewis S. Pilcher award in recognition of his long outstanding service to Methodist Hospital.
Dr. Brevetti’s achievements included serving as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. But the professional accomplishment he took the most pride in was his service in the United States Army. He was deployed as a young soldier overseas for active duty during the Korean Conflict. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Army Reserve and was the commanding officer of the 8th Medical Brigade in Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn. The 8th Medical Brigade throughout much of its history was the largest medical brigade, both active and reserve, in the entire U.S. Army. Dr. Brevetti graduated from the Medical Field Service School, the Command and General Staff College, as well as the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He then went on to graduate from the United States Army War College, and then subsequently attended the Air War College and Naval War College. The Legion of Merit Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal were among General Brevetti’s noteworthy military awards.
Despite his hectic professional schedule, Dr. Brevetti was a family man who raised five children with his wife. He was a devout Catholic who never missed mass on Sundays, and would often walk to church hand-in-hand with his wife. His first son, Salvatore, preceded him in death in 1980, as did his wife in 2013. He is survived by four children: Rossella Brevetti, Esther (Bruno) Cardi, Gregory (Elaine) Brevetti, and Teresa (Phillip) Brevetti-Bazzini. Dr. Brevetti was also a loving and proud grandfather, who is survived by nine grandchildren: Christina (Peter-deceased) Cardi-Paolucci, Stephanie Cardi, Michelle Cardi, Nicholas Bazzini, Lorenzo Bazzini, Giulia Bazzini, Ely Aponte, Arianna Brevetti, and Isabella Brevetti. He is also survived by two siblings: Dr. Raimondo (Jeanette) Brevetti and Mariacristina “Bebé” (Franco-deceased) Mandato.
Dr. Brevetti’s legacy will be how he balanced a life of extraordinary accomplishment while being a father who always made time for his family.
The Brevetti family will always be grateful to the kind and caring aides who helped Dr. Brevetti during his final months, especially to his primary caregiver Maria del Pilar Muñoz, and to Leo Marcos and Michael Cubcuban.
The wake service will be Wednesday, December 2nd at Joseph G. Duffy Funeral Home, 255 9th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11215 from 2 P.M. – 7 P.M. Social distancing will be observed and the chapel capacity will be limited. The funeral service will be held at Saint Saviour Church, 611 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11215. He will be laid to rest at St. John’s Cemetery in Queens, New York.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Wounded Warriors Project or Catholic Charities in Dr. Brevetti’s memory.
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