99 Year Old Former NYU Professor and Orthopedic Surgeon Dies

Known as a gentleman farmer, Albert Bernard Accettola, M.D., former educator and leading orthopedic surgeon, died at his home in Readington Township, New Jersey on July 18, 2017 at the age of 99.

He is survived by two children, daughter Dr. Judith Hendricks (Keith Hendricks), son, Dr. Albert Accettola Jr. (Iris Accettola), six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Rose Accettola, and son Paul Accettola.

Albert Accettola was born on February 4, 1918 in New York City. He graduated from Wagner College in 1940 and then attended Boston University Medical School, where he graduated in 1944.

Dr. Accettola held positions at Staten Island University Hospital, Bellevue Hospital, Marquette University, and Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, New Jersey, where he was a founding doctor of the orthopedic department. He later had a private practice on Staten Island.

Also an educator, Dr. Accettola taught orthopedics as an associate clinical professor at New York University, and was the orthopedic surgeon to all athletic teams at Wagner College from 1949 to 1987. A fencer during his undergraduate years, Wagner College wrote of Dr. Accettola: “Whether with a saber in his hand or a scalpel, Al Accettola has been a gift to Wagner sports.”

Dr. Accettola was a member and past president of the Richmond County Medical Society, a past president of the Medical Board of Staten Island University Hospital, and an active member of the New York State Medical Society, serving on numerous committees. According to his obituary, in 1987 Dr. Accettola retired to his 90-acre farm in Flemington, where he remained busy and active with farming, antique restoration and enjoying time with children and grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by the Reverend Jack O’Kane at Saturday, July 29, 2017 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 105 Summer Road, Three Bridges. A private cremation was at the Chapel of Ewing Crematory in Ewing Township.

Noel Testa, M.D., clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery at NYU Langone Health, stated, “I knew Dr. Accettola as an attending in the Department of Orthopaedics during my residency. He was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word.”

“Dr. Accettola was a dedicated educator, a talented diagnostician and a skilled orthopaedic surgeon. He was well liked and respected by his peers and his students.”

“He brought quality orthopaedic care to the borough of Staten Island when it was only connected to the rest of New York City by the Staten Island Ferry.”