Obituary: A Remembrance of Prof. Ugo del Torto (1923-2011)

A Note from the Editors: The following is a personal remembrance of Prof. Ugo del Torto written by family friend and former colleague, Dr. Robert S. Siffert. Considered an expert in the field of orthopaedic traumatology, Prof. Ugo del Torto was named Chair and Professor of Orthopaedics at the University of Naples Federico II. Always active in the orthopaedic community, Prof. del Torto cofounded the Italian Study Group on Scoliosis in 1977, and served 2years as President of the Society of Italian Orthopaedic Traumatology from 1980 to 1982. His published studies in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® (CORR®) spanned a wide range of orthopaedic topics, including papers investigating the elbow prosthesis, the stabilization of spondylolisthesis, and rib resection using Marino-Zuco-Harrington instrumentation. In 1983, Dr. Siffert and Prof. del Torto collaborated on a study, published in CORR®, which focused on the technique that corrects severe cavus and cavovarus deformities. Ugo and I were very close. His loss will deprive so many friends and colleagues of an outstanding surgeon and a stimulating, loving friend. I first met Ugo approximately 50 years ago in Rome. I had just been appointed Chair and Director of Orthopaedics at Mount Sinai Hospital in Staten Island, NY. In order to broaden my experiences in the specialty, I planned educational visits throughout the United States and abroad, including Rome. Ugo was assigned to me. He directed and scheduled my work. I was impressed by his technical skill, humanity, and graciousness with his patients. It was during this time that Ugo became my teacher, colleague, and friend. Ugo's father was a Chief of Orthopaedics at University of Naples Federico II. Following his father's retirement, Ugo became Chair and Professor of Orthopaedics at the University of Naples Federico II. The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons® (ABJS®) elected Ugo to its membership, an important honorary distinction. ABJS® holds annual meetings in different cities, and Ugo actively participated at those meetings, becoming increasingly well known by his peers. Our wives would occasionally attend the meetings with us. Ugo and his wife, Alberta, were always warm and welcoming. His wife and my wife, Miriam, became fast friends. Ugo always enjoyed meeting new friends in new places. As a visiting professor in Naples, Ugo insisted that I present talks on my research during my time there. I felt that my broken Italian was difficult for others to understand, but Ugo was happy to clarify my remarks, while the attendees recognized the humor of the situation. I had just published an article describing a new operation of the deformed foot as a result of trauma or polio [1]. At a subsequent visit to Naples, Ugo showed me the results of operations he performed on a number of patients with foot deformities due to polio or trauma with good outcomes. He invited me to participate in an international conference in Sicily on the subject. Our wives accompanied us on our trip. I always appreciated that invitation. While overseas during World War II, I was stunned by the poor quality of medical care in developing countries. When I became a consultant for CARE®, a humanitarian organization fighting poverty, I was determined to spend 1 month a year in a developing country. In 1969, I was a CARE® consultant in Tunisia. Ugo and Alberta flew there, and we spent several days together. He joined me on rounds and participated in the teaching sessions, contributing his wisdom and techniques. We rented a car and explored a large part of the country together. The Tunisian visit was the high point of the love and regard between the del Tortos and the Sifferts. On our return to Naples, Alberta, a fine artist, showed me a sculpture of a dancing girl that she had just completed. I expressed my admiration for the work. That Christmas, Alberta sent me the bronzed sculpture (Fig. 1). It occupies a spot in our dining room, and is a constant reminder of my friendship and connection with Ugo and Alberta.Fig. 1: The clay sculpture of a dancing girl occupies a spot in the Siffert's dining room as a reminder of their friendship with Ugo and Alberta del Torto. Published with permission from Robert S. Siffert.Ugo loved sports and physical activity, particularly horseback riding. He also enjoyed automobile racing. He would go from town to town entering races, and once took me along. Those sharp Italian curves were hair-raising, but he was in total control, completely in his element. It is difficult to express the feelings I had for Ugo after so many years. He was a dear friend and colleague whom I sorely miss.

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