German M. Ruperto's Obituary
Dr. German M. Ruperto
Dr. German Manicdo“Gerry” Ruperto (79) passed away in Sun City, Florida on March 3, 2016 after a brief stay in hospice. Dr. Ruperto is survived by his loving wife, Rosemary Elizabeth “Rose” Ruperto (nee Henchen), brother and sister-in-law Eduardo “Eddie” and Cora Ruperto, brother Adolfo “Al” Ruperto, sons Darryl and Patrick (wife Erin) Ruperto, grandchildren Shanice, Jacob, Corey, Ava, and Camden Ruperto, stepson Allan (wife Angela) Hendershot, stepdaughter Tracy Hendershot, and step grandchildren Emma Smith and Gabrielle Hendershot. Gerry is also survived by his first wife Jo Ellen, mother of Darryl and Patrick.
Born on October 30, 1936 in Manilla, Philippines to parents Federico and Marciana Ruperto, Gerry was the fourth of seven children: Patrocinio “Pat” Ruperto, Beatrice “Betty” Del Rosario, Alejandro “Joe” (wife Vilma) Ruperto, German, Eduardo “Eddie” (wife Cora) Ruperto, Irene (husband Danilo “Danny”) Santiago, and Adolfo “Al” Ruperto.
Gerry attended Far Eastern University in Manilla, graduating from the Institute of Arts and Sciences in 1958. Gerry continued his education at Far Eastern University, completing medical school and graduating from the Institute of Medicine on May 12, 1966.
The following year, Dr. Ruperto came to the United States with an ECFMG Certificate (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Students), working for his first year on a rotating internship at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Dr. Ruperto spent three years of residency at hospitals in the Bronx, New York, Englewood, New Jersey, and Detroit, Michigan. While in Detroit, he completed six months of cardiology subspecialty training. Over the next several years, Dr. Ruperto worked in hospitals across upstate New York, including in the emergency room, in intensive care unit, and in surgery. He also lectured in cardiology.
Dr. Ruperto became a naturalized US citizen on May 1, 1975, and he served for nine years as a doctor and Commander in the United States Public Health Commissioned Corps. Although he never served in combat, Dr. Ruperto dressed in uniform every day of his service. His duties included working with Veterans’ Health and doing health inspections of visiting ships and their personnel and other facilities. He also ran a public health clinic.
Gerry and Rose met in 1983 in Albion, New York. Rose accompanied him to Louisiana to finish his tenure with the US Public Health Service (completed in 1984), and were inseparable since. Gerry and Rose were married on April 1, 2006.
Dr. Ruperto opened his own medical practice on Commerce Street in Riverview, Florida in December of 1984, and became a member of the Riverview Chamber of Commerce. Over his long medical career here in Florida, Gerry also worked at Brandon Hospital, Tampa General Hospital, Centro Asturiano Hospital in Ybor City, and several area emergency walk-in clinics. He closed his practice and retired in June, 2006.
Gerry enjoyed dancing, singing, tennis, and basketball, and loved to travel, having vacationed in Hawaii, the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic, Canada, France, and Germany. Gerry spent most of his retirement in Florida, with a one year stay in upstate New York.
Family and friends said goodbye to Gerry at a ceremony at Gentry Morrison Funeral Home in Lakeland, Florida. Full military honors (21 gun salute) were performed at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida, where Gerry is interred in a lush, picturesque setting.
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