Dr. Joseph Toglia, also known as “Pino”, died peacefully of natural causes on Monday, August 27th at his home in Midland, N.C. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Fay Toglia (née Smith) who died in 2003. He was formerly of Ardmore, PA.
where he lived while a Neurology Professor at Temple University Hospital. Pino was born in Pescopagano, Italy, to Antonio and Rosa Toglia (née Torciano) on April 24, 1927. He attended medical school at the University of Naples and the University of Rome in 1945-1951.
Dr. Toglia enlisted in the Officer’s School of Aviation Medicine and served as a Flight Surgeon in the Italian Air Force. In 1954, he emigrated to the United States to complete post-graduate training at Bowman Gray Medical School at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. , where he met and married Betty, a Registered Nurse.
They eventually settled in Ardmore and raised three children there. In the 1960s Dr. Toglia had affiliations with the Veterans Administration, Baylor University Hospital in Houston, TX, Philadelphia General Hospital, and Philadelphia Psychiatric Center. He also served as a Major in the Medical Corps of the United States Army Reserve.
In 1970 he became a Professor of Neurology and Otorhinology at Temple University Hospital. Dr. Toglia was Board Certified in Neurology, Psychiatry and Electroencephalography. He was granted a U. S. Patent for a Nystagmus Processor for EEG machines.
During his tenure as Professor at Temple, he published over 100 articles in both American and Italian medical journals. From 1963 to 1989, he served as Director of the Neurologic Electro-diagnostic Laboratory at Temple University, and became a Professor Emeritus of Neurology in 1989. Dr. Toglia appeared several times as a guest on NBC in New York and Philadelphia, and appeared on RAI (Italian Television).
In 1989, after a successful career in clinical practice, research, and teaching, Joseph and Betty retired to Duck, NC, where the family had spent many enjoyable summers. In 1991 they relocated to Charlotte, NC to be closer to family. Joseph enjoyed watching the Italian Soccer League, the fine arts, wrote poetry, and had a passion for music, which he instilled in his children.
He especially loved Italian opera and classical music. As a child he took organ lessons, and he continued to play and improvise at the piano throughout his life. In later years, he was fascinated by nature, especially birds, which he continued to study from his window, even near the end of his life when he was too weak to go outside.
Joseph was loved by students and peers alike; he had a big personality, and the passion that he had for medicine was always apparent. In friendly conversation, he still thought of himself as a teacher; and everyone around him learned about medicine and the brain, his passions. In this way, even though Joseph was retired, he never ceased to be a of valued medical information for friends and family.
Pino is survived by his three children and their spouses, Tina Toglia and William Thistleton of NY, Anthony Toglia of CA, and Vera Toglia-Ross and Harold Ross of PA; four grandchildren, Jonathan, Joseph, Leigh Ann, and Juliet; and one great- grandchild, Evangeline. He was equally devoted to his nephews John Mungiello and Anthony Mungiello, and their families. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Fay (2003), his 2 brothers, Michele and Francesco Toglia, and sister, Annuziata (Tina) Mungiello.
The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to the following friends who so loved and tirelessly cared for Pino: Doug and Maureen Fincher, Gina and Dell Gardner, and Tammy and Jerry Dixon. The family also expresses thanks to Joseph’s physician, Dr. Meredith Bowen, and to the home health workers without whose tender care we would not have been able to carry out his final wish of remaining at home: Jimena, Tara, Antoinette, Pam, Debbie, Nadia, Judy, Harriett, Amy and the staff at Neighborhood Nurses, as well as the nurses and staff at Hospice of Union County. A memorial service in celebration of Pino’s life will be held Friday, November 23 at 2:00 PM at Hartsell Funeral Home, in Midland, NC.
Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Toglia family. Online condolences may be made at www.
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