SANTORO, Dr. Benjamin Timothy died on Saturday, September 9th, at his home in South Chatham, MA, formerly of Dover, MA, at the age of 88.
Ben is survived by his children, Benjamin, Jr., of Dover, MA, Peter, of Pensacola, FL, Ian, of Delmar, NY, Kip, of South Natick, MA, Jed, of Littleton, MA, and Kyle, of Medway, MA; by their mother, his first wife, Marion Hebberd Santoro, of Dover, MA; by his step-daughters Natasha, Alexandra, of Durham, NC and Janine, of Richmond, VA; and by eleven grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Alysa Santoro, and by his second wife, Janine Cauhape Santoro.
Ben was born on June 15, 1929, in Montgomery, NY, to Benjamin Marco Santoro and Loretta McEvilly Santoro. He is predeceased by his siblings, Gloria, William, and James; and survived by his sisters, Natalie Ann, and Sally. After graduating from Storm King Preparatory School, Ben earned degrees from Yale University and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his residency training at the University of Minnesota and Mass General Hospital, and moved to Dover, MA with his family in 1961. Shortly after arriving, Ben established a private medical practice, serving as a general practitioner providing care to the people of Dover and surrounding communities. He also served for many years as Chief of Emergency Medicine at Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick, MA, before finally retiring to South Chatham in 1988.
A brilliant physician, as well as a beloved father, husband, and brother, Ben touched many lives. As one of the last doctors to make house calls, Ben developed deep and lasting connections with many of his patients, often treating entire families over the course of many years. As Dover’s unofficial town doctor, Ben had the trust of all of his patients, many of whom came to love him for all that he did. As a physician, Ben was perhaps most proud of his abilities as a diagnostician, which saved many lives.
But while Ben loved being a physician, he never let go of the idea that he might have loved teaching as well, history and literature in particular. After completing his English major at Yale, Ben did in fact teach English for a time at the Westminster School in Simsbury, CT, an experience he treasured and fondly recounted many times over the years. Friends and family will always remember him as someone larger than life, and a true renaissance man.
Ben’s family loves him dearly, and will miss him always.
A funeral is scheduled for 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, September 14th, 2017 at the Church of the Most Precious Blood, 30 Centre Street, Dover, MA. Rev. John J. Grimes will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Dover, MA. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation in Ben’s name be made to the charity of your choice. The family would like to offer special thanks to Lou Maloof and to Ben’s caregivers, Diana Ellis, Jody McCollough, Barbara McGuire, Danielle Letendre, Ellen Garvey, Heather Roberts, Linda Maw, Mary Amsler, Kathleen Marse, Penny Bache, Sharlene Sowers, Solange Nunes, and Sonya Joy. You took such loving care of our father, and we are forever grateful.