Dr. Bartley G. Cilento

Born on April 24, 1935, he was the only child to Rose and Angelo Cilento of Newark, NJ. Bart attended Blessed Sacrament Grammar School and St. Benedict's Prep School before attending St. Anselm College and Seton Hall College of Medicine & Dentistry, graduating in 1961. He completed his internship and pediatric residency at U.S. Naval Hospitals in Newport, RI, Chelsea, MA and Jacksonville, FL. From 1959-2000, he proudly served in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Naval Reserve, retiring in 2000 with the rank of Captain. While serving in the U.S Naval Reserve, he organized the Sea Service Ball, participated in the Ward Room and helped to coordinate numerous Toys for Tots Christmas drives.

At St. Anselm College, Bart met the love of his life, Margaret Doyon. Bart and Margaret had eight cherished children and 25 grandchildren. Through the years, they lived in Jersey City, NJ; Newport, RI; Arlington, MA; Jacksonville, FL; before choosing to settle and raise their family in picturesque Scituate, MA, where he practiced for over 50 years. Being a pediatrician and caring for multiple generations of families was his greatest joy, second only to his family.

A Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), he has also been a member of the Continuing Medical Education Committee of the Massachusetts Chapter of AAP. He was named to Boston Magazine’s Top 200 Physicians in 1999, named to The Best Doctors in America from 1996-1998, received the Community Service Award from Boston Children’s Hospital in 1999, and was named Community Clinician of the Year by the Norfolk South District Medical Society in 2006. A member of the Massachusetts Medical Society since 1967, Dr. Cilento was a member of the organization’s Committee on Legislation for 18 years and its committee on Professional Liability for 12 years. He served on the Committee on Nominations. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees and House of Delegates and served as president of the Norfolk South District Medical Society. He served the Norfolk South District Medical Society as secretary, a position he held for 39 years (normally a 2-3 year election). Bart was honored by the Massachusetts Medical Society with its 2016 Award for Distinguished Service to the Massachusetts Medical Society - one of the most prestigious awards given by the Society to one of its members.

Bart joined the medical staff at South Shore Hospital in 1967 and remained on the staff until his retirement in 2015. During that time, he served as President of the Medical Staff in 1989, on the Credentials Committee from 2001-2010, as well as the ethics and education committees. In his early years, he would go to the hospital to see every newborn regardless of the hour and did daily morning rounds on the pediatric ward before his office hours.

Bart was an avid wood carver, ukulele player, lover of music and a frustrated golfer who never broke 100. He was a voracious learner who also enjoyed cooking, boating, camping and traveling with his family.

Bart is predeceased by his beloved wife, Margaret, his daughter, Germaine, his grandson, Matthew and both his parents.

He is survived by his son Dr. Bartley G Cilento (Lee), of Canton, MA; Becky Bushey of Cape Elizabeth, ME; Barbara Saad (Ramzi) of Marshfield, MA; Matthew Cilento (Eileen), of Chelmsford, MA; Catherine Armstrong (David) of Marshfield, MA; Maria Murphy of Chelmsford, MA; Jennifer Merlan (Christopher) of Pembroke, MA. He was the proud grandfather of Elizabeth Bettinelli (Joe) and Audrey Cilento, Jack (Moira), William and Marty Bushey, Benjamin (Kirsten) and Amelia Saad, Samuel, Jonathan, Megan, Catherine and Joshua Foster, Kimberly and Andrew Cilento, David, Olivia, John, Harrison and Julia Armstrong, Anthony and Thomas Murphy, and Ella, Luke and Thomas Merlan and three great grandchildren.

Bart will be missed by many but none more than his loving children and grandchildren. Above all, they are grateful for his love, support and exemplary kindness, patience and humility.

Friends and family are invited to pay their respects on Tuesday, July 25 from 4-8pm at Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be celebrated by Bart’s dearest friend, Fr. Martin Mager, OSB at St. Mary’s of the Nativity in Scituate Harbor on Wednesday, July 26th at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that you pay it forward with an act of kindness in his honor. If you prefer to make a donation, Toys for Tots was one of the numerous charitable organizations Bart generously supported.