Orlando “Gabe” Frederico Gabriele, 97, passed away in his home in Pittsburgh, Thursday, November 14, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.
A first-generation Italian American born June 6, 1927, he was a son of the late Federico G. Gabriele and Rita S. Cascia Gabriele, who arrived from Italy to settle in Providence, R.I.
Gabe attended Brown University, graduating summa cum laude, and acquired his MD from Yale University School of Medicine in 1954.
As a young man, Gabe proudly served as a fireman for the Centerdale Volunteer Fire Department and as a member of the Army Medical Corps during World War II.
Gabe’s medical education continued at Philadelphia General Hospital as an intern, then he returned to Yale to complete his residency in radiology. He continued at Yale as a clinician and residency training director. Gabe’s colleague and mentor, Dr. James Scatliff, moved on to the Chair of the Department of Radiology at UNC Chapel Hill, N.C. in 1966 and asked Gabe to join him as residency director there.
Orlando Gabriele came to West Virginia University in 1972 to chair the Department of Radiology and recruited his friend and colleague, Dr. Michael Hogan, to help start West Virginia’s first and only radiological residency training program. Keeping abreast of the newest technologies, Gabe brought the first CAT scanner and MRI scanner to West Virginia. Gabe was a pioneer in angiography and also instrumental in developing ultrasound and nuclear medicine in West Virginia. Gabe’s passion for teaching and mentorship reached many students and residents and continues to have an impact on patient care today throughout West Virginia.
When he retired from WVU to accept a position as Chair of Radiology at Montifiore Hospital in Pittsburgh, he was honored for his contributions to the department and the education of many respected physicians under his mentorship with the WVU School of Medicine Orlando F. Gabriele Chair of Radiology endowment.
Gabe was a nationally respected physician, teacher and diagnostician, who served as a guest examiner for the American Board of Radiology, a diplomat for the American Board of Radiology and American Board of Nuclear Medicine, authored over 60 publications, and taught at Yale, UNC and WVU. His legacy inspired two of his sons and one of his grandsons to follow him in the field of radiology.
After Gabe retired from the practice of medicine at age 71, he enjoyed life and immersed himself in many endeavors such as traveling, tennis, gardening, hiking, and entertaining with his beloved wife, Denise Kalinowski, MD, family and friends. He was a gifted conversationalist, a prolific reader and a life-long scholar of history, politics, society and many other topics of interest that he enthusiastically shared with those who were fortunate to enjoy the pleasure of his company. He was known for his intellect, wit, kindness, generosity, and humility and was cherished by all who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved sister, Yolanda Kearns; and his former spouse, Marguerite Gabriele.
He is survived by his wife, Denise; his children, Frederick (Mary) Gabriele, MD of Morgantown, Marguerite (David) Horvath, Esq. of Morgantown, Michael (Colleen) Gabriele, MD of Sewickly, and Peter (Stephanie) Prosek of Marietta, Ga.; his nine grandchildren, Nicholas, Isabella, Anthony, Paige, Dominic, Kyra, Ethan, Roman and Arianna; and his beloved sister, Anna Albanese of Providence, R.I.
WVU Medical School Alumni Association and Gabe’s family will host a memorial service December 14, in the WVU Health Sciences Center in the Pylon Lobby. Family will receive friends at 11 a.m., with a Celebration of Life and Reception to follow at 12:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully encourages donations to be made to the O.F. Gabriele Chair of Radiology at the WVU School of Medicine. Gifts may be mailed to: Tim Bolling, WVU Foundation, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507 (memo: Gabriele Chair Fund 3V034).
