Day#11, October 10, 2016 Travel to New Hope, PA

Today was a day for us to visit with my friend, Lamberto Bentivoglio and his wife of nearly two years, Barbara Donnelly. Lamberto was the person most influential in my life in making a decision to go to medical school. I met Lamberto, a Cardiologist, when I was studying for my doctorate in Biomedical Engineering at Drexel University. Lamberto was studying engineering subjects and I was studying biological subjects. The program enabled physicians and engineers to talk a common language. During this period of my life I worked with Lamberto on his thesis project as I needed a part-time job to finance my education. Later, I worked full time in the Cardiology Department of Einstein Medical Center in North Philadelphia with him. It was during this time and through my association with Lamberto that I came to the conclusion that going to medical school was a good career path for me.

During these years in 1969-1970, the aerospace industry was being de-funded and engineers were being laid off in droves. I wanted to get an M.D. degree, so that I could get research grants. I also decided to not pursue the doctorate because it would have required another year for the thesis and I was at the age that if I did not go to medical school before age 30, I would definitely need a PhD degree to get in. After exposure to Surgery that was much like being an engineer, I became a clinician. If not for Lamberto, I probably would not have become an M.D.

Two years ago, on New Years' Eve, Earline and I were privileged to attend the marriage of Barbara and Lamberto held in New Hope, PA. It was a fairy tale wedding on a very cold evening but we loved being there to help them celebrate their union.

My Mentor, Lamberto and his wife Barbara!

We had a great lunch at a haunted, historic hotel called the Black Bass Hotel.
Black Bass Hotel History


The evening was filled with wine, and playing music with my old bandmate Nick, while Nick's wife, Ellie and my wife Earline were "appreciators" or at least they pretended to be while drinking more wine. :) It became rapidly apparent that my trumpet lip deteriorates rapidly while traveling and not practicing. :(