A Podiatrist, A Pol, A Pal: Montemurro Mourned
Longtime Democratic Party member Patsy Papandrea
considered ROBERT L. MONTEMURRO a contemporary
and a good friend, though the men first met
decades ago as patient and doctor. When first
introduced, Montemurro was a young doctor with a
new practice in Meriden (CT) and Papandrea was
just a junior high school football player with
an ankle sprain. "That was my first meeting with
this young doctor," Papandrea, now 62, said.
Papandrea said he saw Montemurro's
professionalism and dedication continue from his
medical practice to city politics. Montemurro,
76, a former alderman and a longtime member of
the Board of Education, died Thursday. His
funeral was held Monday. Montemurro graduated
from Long Island University's College of
Podiatry with a doctor of podiatry degree.
In January 1963, Montemurro, then 35, was
named "Young Man of the Year" by the Junior
Chamber of Commerce for his leadership with the
organizations including the Meriden Jaycees, the
Cerebral Palsy Association, the March of Dimes
and the Citizens Committee for High School
Athletics. Later that year, he was elected an
alderman. Montemurro continued his public
service with the Board of Education from 1972
until 1985, when he stepped down to attend to
his own health problems.
Montemurro was a longtime coach in the Meriden
Junior Football League and a regular medical
volunteer along the sidelines at Maloney High
School football games. From time to time,
Montemurro was known to treat area seniors for
their ailments then quietly send them on their
way without charging them.
Source: Jason J. Barry, Record-Journal [11/4/03]
