Robert S. Fontana, M.D. (I ’56, THD ’57)

Robert Scott Fontana, age 89, died Monday, March 30th, 2015 at Rochester Methodist Hospital.

He was born on February 10, 1926 to Christopher and Madeline (Pat) Fontana in St. Louis, Missouri. The family moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

At age 17, he enlisted in the Navy and was sent to St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York for his premedical education. After graduation (Phi Beta Kappa), he attended St. Louis University Medical School.

Upon graduation in 1949 (AOA), he started a two-year rotating internship at Philadelphia General Hospital. There, he met Margaret Ann Schlegel, and they were married September 26th, 1953. They moved to Rochester, Minnesota where he began an Internal Medicine fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. After passing pulmonary specialty boards, he joined the Thoracic Disease Section at Mayo.

He started the Mayo Lung Project as the principal investigator. He always found great satisfaction in seeing and caring for his patients. He showed kindness and compassion to all. In addition, he was a bronchoscopist and received the Chevalier Jackson award.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret and four children: Scott (Peggy) Fontana, Lakeville, Minnesota; Elizabeth (Dave) Remy, Mercer Island, Washington; Christopher (Laura) Fontana, Warrenville, Illinois; and Kathryn (Charles) Dale of Fox Island, Washington. Additionally, six grandchildren: Sarah, CJ, Patrick, Lisa, Laura, and Kara. He is also survived by his sister, Betsy Anthony of Denver, Colorado. He was preceded in death by son, Mark and his parents.

There will be a funeral Mass at the Church of St. Johns the Evangelist (11 4th Avenue, S.W., Rochester, Minnesota) on Friday, April 10th, at 10:30 a.m. Father John Lasuva will officiate. Interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery (500 11th Ave NE Rochester, MN 55906)

Memorial donations may be made to Season’s Hospice (1696 Greenview Dr SW, Rochester, MN 55902; www.seasonshospice.org).

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.

Obituary courtesy of Macken Funeral Home & Cremation Services.