Obituary of Joseph J. DeRose M.D.

Joseph J. DeRose M.D. on April 26, 2023. Born and raised in Astoria Queens.

Joe DeRose was a proud graduate of Xavier High School in NYC and the College of the Holy Cross in Worchester MA. He attended medical school at SUNY Downstate Medical School. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at SUNY Downstate and was selected to be chief resident in his third year. After graduating he spent two years in the Public Health Service in Washington DC.

He returned to New York as a faculty member in Family Practice at SUNY Downstate, rising to the academic level of Associate Professor. He moved to Long Island in 1973. He opened a private office in Bay Ridge Brooklyn and spent 50 years providing some of the most compassionate and complete internal medical care to his community and beyond. He was universally loved by his patients, caring for them and their family members as a constant throughout most of their lives.

He was passionate about the art and science of medicine. He lived his professional life in honor and respect of the notion that “Medicine truly is the noblest of all professions.” He was a world class teacher who leaves behind a legacy of hundreds of students and residents who trained at his side. He was known for the three headed gold stethoscope that he carried and he was truly a master clinician expert in the art of physical exam and differential diagnosis.

He loved mastering the game of craps, playing and watching tennis and binging old episodes of Columbo. He was a boxing fan, Yankee fan and Jets fan.

Beloved husband of 59 years to Patricia.  Loving father of MaryLou Vassalle (Massimo) and Joseph DeRose (Laina).  Immensely proud grandfather of Joey, Nicole, Allison and Marisa.  Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday at 11:45am at St. Mary’s R.C. Church, Manhasset, NY with entombment to follow at Nassau Knolls Cemetery, Port Washington, NY.