nbsp Hundreds of mourners including dozens of emergency medical technicians on Saturday July 6 2013 paid tribute Dr. Nicholas DeRobertis a leader in the field of emergency medicine credited with bringing life-saving tools and training to the public. He died of a heart attack earlier in the week.div idartpaginationdiv stylefloat none classc content-wrapdiv idgelement7 classgel-contentdiv idGPage1 classgel-pane gpagedivpspan classppspanppspan classppspanAt his funeral at St. Patricks Church an honor guard of EMTs police and fire officials from all over Westchester County stood at attention while a row of ambulances parked nearby bore silent tribute to a well-respected colleague and friend.span classaaspanppspan classppspanHe was a strong proponent of getting advanced life-saving capabilities on the street recalled Peter McDonald deputy chief of the Mount Vernon Fire Department standing outside the church in his dress uniform. I cant imagine how many lives were saved because of his efforts.span classaaspanppspan classppspanMcDonald a registered nurse who had worked alongside Dr. DeRobertis recalled that only a generation or so ago the tool-kit that EMTs carried on the job were relatively primitive. The late doctor through persistence and dedication helped usher in a new wave of life-saving technology that can re-start the heart and open blocked breathing passages advances that spread through the region.span classaaspanppspan classppspanHe was a leader of all that said McDonald Were all better off because of his efforts.span classaaspanppspan classppspanInside the church his daughter Alicia spoke of his warmth and passion his love of parties.span classaaspanppspan classppspanHe was one of the hardest working men I know. He had to be the best and boy did he succeed she said. His mind was so full of ways to improve patient care. Once he accomplished one goal he moved onto the next.span classaaspanppspan classppspanShe recalled his commitment as a father — when she started playing field hockey at the age of 12 he bought a stick to practice with her. He was a man who lived life to the fullest she said.span classaaspanppspan classppspanDeRobertis 60 of Somers was a physician and administrator at St. Josephs Medical Center in Yonkers. He died of a heart attack July 1.span classaaspanppspan classppspanThe Rev. John Duffel said the late doctor put Christian principles into action as a physician and a man and he made the most of his talents.span classaaspanppspan classppspanHe did more in 60 years that most people would in 80 or 100 Duffel said. He did what a believer was supposed to do….Wherever he walked he made the world better.span classaaspanpdivdivdiv–13752315933310–div classsharelinks-bottomwrapperdiv classtoolswrapper bottomdiv idsharelinks-bottom classtoolsArticle facetwitt bottomdiv classtoolsShareWrapdiv classtoolsBorderdivdiv classtoolsShareimg srchttpcdn.taboolasyndication.comgannettplay-huge-hover.png fcksavedurlhttpcdn.taboolasyndication.comgannettplay-huge-hover.png width82 height82 stylewidth 0px position absolutedivdivdivdivdivdivdiv idtaboola-story-leftcolumn classtaboola-story-leftcolumn trcrelatedcontainer trcspotlightwidgetdiv classtrcrboxcontainerdiv styleoverflow hidden idtrcwrapper89608 classtrcrbox story-leftcolumndiv styleoverflow hidden idouter89608 classtrcrboxouterimg stylewidth 0px position absolute srchttpcdn.taboolasyndication.comgannettplay-large-over.png fcksavedurlhttpcdn.taboolasyndication.comgannettplay-large-over.png width50 height50img stylewidth 0px position absolute srchttpcdn.taboolasyndication.comgannettplay-small-over.png fcksavedurlhttpcdn.taboolasyndication.comgannettplay-small-over.png width29 height28divdivdivdivpp
