Philip J. Arena, MD Obituary - The Patriot Ledger

Dr. Philip John Arena of Hingham, Massachusetts – known arsenic a antheral of integrity and highest character, peacefully near this world connected January 23rd, 2023, having lived a beingness of resilient abundance. “The Gods broke the mold” connected December 30th, 1935, the time Phil came into being; determination volition ne'er beryllium different antheral similar him. Generous of bosom and spirit; attentive to the essence of what was astir important nary substance the situation. He stood for each that is bully successful the satellite and shared the champion of himself passim each endeavor.

Born astatine location to migrant parents who landed successful East Boston, raising their 2 sons and girl successful the 3rd level flat of a triple decker, brimming with Sicilian relatives connected the floors below. A assemblage among themselves, coming of property successful this context, established the instauration for Phil’s lifelong mantra, “la famiglia e tutti” -family is everything.

Phil inherited his unsocial blend of drive, determination, societal savvy, loyalty, and compassion for humanity from his precocious parents, Rose and Cosimo. He was raised to uphold the traditions and values his parents carried with them from their homeland, portion abiding by their strict anticipation that helium enactment successful the requisite sweat and stamina to win successful American culture. For Phil, the pathway to his “American Dream” was done education.

He graduated from Boston Latin School successful 1953; the launching crushed for his little vocation arsenic an athlete, wherever helium ran 80 yards connected the opening kickoff to people a touchdown successful the infamous Latin-English Classic, helping the squad assertion victory, and clinch a stock of the City Crown. To Phil however, Latin School was much important arsenic the discourse wherever helium archetypal developed an enduring intelligence curiosity, a disciplined caput and a content successful the worth of education.

He went connected to gain a assistance to Harvard University, wherever helium played freshman shot anterior to refocusing his clip and making “a conscious choice,” arsenic helium often said, to instrumentality afloat vantage of the world and societal opportunities determination that served to deepen his knowing of himself and spark the imaginativeness of who helium wanted to beryllium successful the world. He graduated from Harvard successful 1957, with a wide extremity to survey medicine and a diverse, brotherhood of friendships helium would clasp and cherish passim the remainder of his life.

Following college, Phil attended Boston University School of Medicine, entering a clip wherever his friends became colleagues, bonded for life, unneurotic enduring the inherent strength progressive with the survey of medicine during an epoch erstwhile 1 retired of 4 didn’t marque it to graduation. Along the mode helium joined the emotion of his life, Claire Smither, who became “the location mother” for helium and his adjacent comrades arsenic they struggled done aesculapian school. They helped each different and survived with affirmative resilience and an enthusiasm for their adjacent chapter.

He graduated from aesculapian schoolhouse successful 1961, entered the United States Army arsenic an officer, and helium and Claire, with their archetypal kid successful tow, traveled crossed the state destined for Honolulu, Hawaii, wherever helium began his aesculapian career, commencing his internship successful a Med/Surg rotation astatine Tripler General Hospital. He returned to Massachusetts, stationed astatine Fort Devens and was honorably discharged from work successful 1968, having been awarded a Certificate of Achievement, an Army Aviation Medical Officer Badge, and an Army Commendation Medal for his distinguished work to the Armed Forces during his tenure. Phil held heavy pridefulness for having served successful the military; often reflecting connected and sharing stories from those years, and the friendships helium solidified portion serving his country. He fulfilled his Medical Residency astatine Boston City Hospital, becoming Chief Resident successful 1966 and 1967 and yet Board Certified successful Radiology successful 1968.

Phil spent the bulk of his aesculapian vocation arsenic the Chief of Radiology astatine Brockton Hospital and Clinical Professor of Radiology astatine Boston University School of Medicine, grooming hundreds of interns and residents successful some the tract of radiology and the meaning of assemblage based aesculapian practice. He was beloved by his students for tirelessly investing successful their grooming and established a highly respected estimation infirmary wide - up and down the hierarchy, specifically valued among his peers and patients alike. Phil had a mode of starring that was some collegial and strategic; 1 wherever gathering and nurturing relationships was astatine the forefront. Coming from humble beginnings, Phil was relatable and engaging to a scope of characters. He could beryllium 1 among many, portion simultaneously taking complaint of moving his ngo forward.

During his tenure astatine Brockton Hospital, the tract of Radiology was experiencing a clip of tremendous advancement. Phil evolved a erstwhile tiny section successful a community-based hospital, into a flourishing radical of committee certified radiologists supplying infirmary unit with precocious expertise successful Diagnostic Imaging, equipping the section itself with the latest authorities of the creation equipment, identifying Brockton Hospital arsenic the premier imaging section southbound of Boston.

After 30 years with Brockton, and astatine the apical of his game, Phil moved connected to go the Director of Imaging with Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates from wherever helium yet retired. He kept his aesculapian licence and memberships progressive for immoderate clip after, arsenic this was portion of who helium was adjacent extracurricular the signifier of medicine.

Above, beyond and woven done Phil’s career, was his narration with Claire, his woman of 62 years, his crushed why. He and Claire traveled the satellite together, experiencing past cathedrals and exotic cultures, the flora and fauna of lush and antithetic landscapes and of people an abundance of culinary delights! Perusing nutrient markets and scouting retired those hidden gem eateries, frequented lone by the locals, was a question itinerary precedence for Phil successful particular. He and Claire became rather the brace successful the room arsenic good arsenic successful life; their originative cuisine emerged arsenic a item of rituals and events with household and friends. The Feast of Seven Fishes remains among the infamous and enduring done the adjacent generation.

The household Phil and Claire created unneurotic and the friendships they shared were ever a cardinal absorption successful his life. As a genitor of 5 children, helium was a firm, yet just authorization fig and a omniscient sage. His long-standing keen position connected radical and situations was a priceless gift, highly valued to his children, particularly successful hard times. As his household evolved, helium became a revered gramps and trusted confidant to his big children. They are heartbroken that his clip has passed, yet grateful for the way helium blazed and the beingness helium provided for them.

Throughout his life, erstwhile the close clip came, Phil’s fun-loving quality was ne'er excessively acold retired of reach. He loved being the big of a bully enactment and celebrating beingness with those helium held close, and those helium honored successful ways large and small. He chaired and participated connected respective alumni committees readying reunions and reconnections for Boston Latin School, Harvard and BUSM. Known to springiness an awesome toast, and “the chosen speaker” for important milestones among colleagues and friends, his words could bring to beingness the essence of a idiosyncratic with nuance, wit, and occasional verse! People loved being astir Phil and Phil loved being astir people.

Beloved hubby of the precocious Claire Arena of Hingham, predeceased by his member Charles Arena of Hingham, and his Sister Frances Poupolo of Canton. Loving begetter of Alison Blackburn of Hingham, Maribeth Arena and her spouse Bill Hurley of Blackstone, Gretchen McAuliffe and her hubby Dan of Dedham, Philip J. Arena, Jr. and his woman Debbie of Bridgewater, and Julianne Arena M.D. of Norwell, and her fiancé Jeff Matteus of Duxbury. Cherished Papa of Edward Raymond Blackburn, III, Caroline Claire McAuliffe, Philip John Arena, III, Jack Lawrence Arena, Anthony Charles Arena, Benjamin Christopher Belisle, and Isabel Grace Belisle.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the household during the visiting hours connected Sunday 2-5 PM successful the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), Hingham. The Funeral Mass volition beryllium Monday successful Church of the Resurrection, Hingham astatine 10 AM. Burial successful St. Paul’s Cemetery, Hingham. See www.Keohane.com for directions and online condolences. Donations whitethorn beryllium made successful his representation to the Norwell VNA and Hospice www.nvna.org oregon 110 Fitness, Rockland www.110fitness.org