Valentino Sica

Valentino Sica

Longtime Rochelle Park physician Valentino Vincent Sica, M.D., 95, of Sparta, N.J., passed away on Dec. 5, 2021. To his last days, he lived independently and was sharp as a tack, studying for and passing his prized annual medical license renewal. Val, the son of Italian immigrants, was born in New York City on May 20, 1926, and spent his early years in Saddle Brook, N.J., before moving to Rochelle Park as a young teen. He resided there for most of his life and ultimately opened a medical practice in Rochelle Park that he maintained for 40 years. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, he was educated at Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania and the Universit di Roma Medicina in Rome, where he graduated in 1956. Medicine was his life's passion. Until Val's retirement in 1994, his usual day consisted of a morning of surgery, doing rounds at St. Mary's Hospital in Passaic to see patients, making house calls on the way home before lunch, and then holding office hours until 10 or so at night. Val loved his involvement in the lives of his patients and their communities, and was as happy to receive home-grown vegetables or baked goods as cash for payment. He avidly volunteered as the town physician, school physician and numerous other roles. For the past 27 years, Val resided in Lake Mohawk, N.J. In his private life, Val was a voracious reader and supporter of education. He loved swimming, ice skating, traveling, and playing billiards and cards. Dedicated to family, he enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his wife, children and granddaughters, particularly sharing a good meal and interesting conversation with them. Those who knew him well will remember him as a kind and gentle man who never spoke ill of anyone and was exceptionally tolerant and encouraging of diversity. Though fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and infrequently leaving his home, he contracted the virus in late November. Unfortunately, with his pre-existing autoimmune deficiency and his advanced age, the vaccine was not enough to help him fight this terrible disease in the way that it so effectively protects most people, a reminder that we should all do what we can to end this epic pandemic and its devastating toll on our most vulnerable. Val is survived by his beloved wife of 75 years Katherine, his daughter Valerie Trainor (husband, Doug), his daughter Paula Sica-Scripsick (husband, Mike), granddaughters Amalia and Luisa, and numerous cherished cousins. A private service was held with immediate family members only. A celebration of Val's life and accomplishments will take place at a later date. Online condolences can be made on Goble Funeral Home's website: www.goblefuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania: www.lvc.edu/give. (Select "Other" as the fund. Please note that gifts are in memory of Dr. Valentino V. Sica '50.) He was a member of Post 170 in Rochelle Park.