Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

When I was a kid our family Doctor made house calls. Just in that sentence alone there are two things that are now obsolete, “family Doctor ” and “house calls.” I did an entire story on our former family doctor, Harry Goldenberg. He would show up at our house at all hours of the day or night. He used to give my parents free samples of medicines and vitamins. I recall vividly seeing Dr. Goldenberg walk up our stairs carrying his black bag. I also used to show up at his office near Powder House Park when I felt too sick to go to school.

There used to be a chiropractor in Winthrop who would crack your neck for 50 cents. People would line up in front of his house waiting to see him. Times have changed. The doctors at our health providers have hundreds of patients. Gone are the days of the family Doctor going to visit a patient in their home. You pretty much have to call in an emergency to get personal medical attention or make an appointment and go to an office. And now we can have virtual doctor visits.

Sometimes in the old days, the family Doctor arrived in his pajamas at all hours of the day or night.

Some of my friends had the same family Doctor that we had. I sparked up a conversation among Somerville people discussing our old family doctors. I’ve compiled a list. I hope I have the spelling correct. First some recollections.

— Dr. Letty used to chase you around the table. So he could give you a shot

— Dr. Rosenthal; he was a wonderful doctor and became a close family friend, especially him and my father. He delivered our twin siblings and my parents named our brother Charles after him.

— When I was a kid I got thrown into a swimming pool, there was a sharp piece of metal on the bottom from a toy motor boat, it sliced my back open he stitched my back up. I still have the scar!

— Dr. Wilson, on College Ave. Louds Candy Store was always a treat after, especially if I had to get a shot.

— Dr. Mucci, delivered me and also gave me my blood test for my marriage license.

— Dr. Backer he was the best. He also sat one night in the hospital with my baby, while I was home 9 months pregnant with my third child.

— Dr. Priestley. He made house calls. When I was about four years old I caught the Polio virus and was VERY sick. He came to our house to treat me. Here is a list of some of the Doctors that treated us Somerville folks back in the day.

Dr. Goldenburg, Dr. Mucci, Dr. Leavitts, Dr. Covino, Dr. Grillone, Dr. Szwarc, Dr. Russo, Dr. Dewire, Dr. Robinson, Dr. Kelly, Dr. Adler, Dr. Patslano, Dr. Hodos, Dr. Titelbaum, Dr. Covino, Dr. O’Brien, Dr. Carr, Dr. Fraser, Dr. Picariello, Dr. Baldassari, Dr. Peters, Dr. Dente, Dr. Sweeney, Dr. McGovern, Dr. Fagan, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Wilson, Dr. LaBella, Dr.. Bombacci, Dr. Russman, Dr. Arthur, Dr. Mcarthy, Dr. Osler, Dr. Rosenthal, Dr. Cromer, Dr. Ciampa, Dr. Sheely, Dr. Fred, Dr. Connors, Dr. Kennedy, Dr. Amia, Dr. Gonella, Dr. Backer, Dr. Carr, Dr. Torreysap, Dr. Bloom, Dr. Sewall, Dr. Marks, Dr. Ready, Dr. Saunders, Dr. Leebo, Dr. Tavares, Dr. Laird, Dr. Saipe, Dr. Hodos, Dr.. MacKillop, Dr. Receputo, Dr. Pat Scelso, Df McDonald, Dr. Arbenne, Dr. Capone, Dr. Rosemovich, Dr. Kushner, Dr. Mullen, Dr. Yood,Dr. Priestley, Dr. Martin, Dr. Blesoff, Dr. Gonella, Dr. Avalon, Dr.. Cozza, Dr. Arbeene, Dr. Giobbe, One Benton Road, Somerville Dr. Louis Giorgio, Dr. Letty, Dr. Vinny Boombatz, Dr. Kildare, Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard.

I will let a friend sum it up;

— Dr. Schwartz, Powder House Boulevard, Somerville. When my dad died at young age of 31 at home from fatal heart attack, Dr. Schwartz showed up at our house and stayed many hours comforting our family. What doctors do that these days? Make house calls? Show up in the middle of the night and stay hours to comfort family? We will always remember those special doctors from decades ago.