Dr. Richard Henry Tapogna

Tapogna, Dr. Richard Henry, 86, of Springfield, OH passed away August 23, 2013 at the Springfield Regional Medical Center after an extended illness. He was born August, 14, 1927 in Hartford, CT to Joseph and Maria (Bomino) Tapogna who emigrated to the U.S. from Bari, Italy. Richard graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. and the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University in Chicago. Following medical school, he served his residency at the V.A. Hospital in Newington, CT, at the V.A. Hospital in Hines, IL, U.S Air Force Hospital in Chateaux Roux, France, and Shriner's Hospital in Chicago, IL. He was a well-respected orthopedic surgeon and was devoted to Community Hospital where he served as Chief of Orthopedics and Chief of Staff for many years. He was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church, the Springfield Rotary Club, the Clark County Medical Society, the Ohio Medical Society, the American Medical Association, The American College of Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, Miami Valley Health Improvement Council, and the Springfield Board of Health. Dr. Tapogna also held teaching appointments at Wright State School of Medicine and The Ohio State University School of Medicine. He met his wife Alice Skibbens at Mother Cabrini Hospital in Chicago where she was a registered nurse. They married in 1950 and lived in Chicago, Hartford, and France before settling in Springfield, OH in 1958. He is survived by children Stephen (Susan) of Cincinnati, David (Diane) of Santa Rosa, CA., Michael (Angie) of Lebanon, OH, Christa Bostick of Springfield, OH, Catherine (Kevin Greer) of Dayton, OH, Thomas (Dianna), Anne of Springfield, OH, Mary of Portland, OR, John of Cincinnati; grandchildren Britt (Andy) Cox, Ian Bostick, Jesse Bostick, Sarah Tapogna, Alicia Tapogna and Rachel Tapogna; great-grand daughter Penelope Cox, sisters Helen LaCava and Lil LaCava of Wethersfield, CT and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Alice J., brothers Anthony, Paul, Horacio, Louis and sister Ida, nephew Joseph, and granddaughter Alison. Friends may call in the CONROY FUNERAL HOME from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday in St. Teresa Church. Burial will be in Ferncliff Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children or Springfield Rotary.