Obituary for Gerard Daniel "Gerry" Robilotti
• Gerard Daniel Robilotti, of Newtown, passed away on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. He was 81.
Gerry was born on October 5, 1940, in New York City, and grew up in Greenwich Village with his parents, Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Victoria Robilotti. He graduated from Manhattan College in 1965 and completed his Master’s in Hospital Administration at Columbia University School of Public Health in 1971 and residency in hospital administration at the former Beekman Downtown Hospital.
In 1971, he joined Danbury Hospital as an assistant administrator, beginning what would be a 38-year career there. He became president of Danbury Hospital in 1987, and then led the hospital as Executive Vice President of Danbury Health Systems following the reorganization of the hospital into a regional network. During his tenure at Danbury, Gerry’s greatest legacy was enhancing the medical education programs making Danbury a regional teaching hospital for physician trainees and allied health professionals. He also led aggressive fundraising efforts as president of the Danbury Hospital Development Fund to establish the Praxair Cancer Center and the neonatal intensive care unit, among many other programs. In recognition of his contributions, the Gerard D. Robilotti Conference Center at Danbury Hospital was dedicated to him at his retirement in 2009.
Gerry was an active leader in the hospital administration and medical education communities. He taught at Western Connecticut State University, Quinnipiac College, University of Connecticut, and Yale University. He was associate dean and graduate studies officer at the New York Medical College. A longtime member of the Connecticut Hospital Association, he served as chair in 1998. He was Connecticut’s delegate at the American Hospital Association, and regent for Connecticut for the American College of Healthcare Executives. In these roles, he advocated frequently in Hartford and Washington on behalf of the state’s hospitals for sound health and health insurance policies. He was also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, at the Royal Society of Health, and the New York Academy of Medicine.
Gerry contributed to many efforts to promote and improve western Connecticut. He served as president of the Boy Scouts of America, Fairfield County Council; a member of the board of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce and the Western Connecticut State University Foundation; and a corporator of the Newtown Savings Bank.
After his retirement, Gerry focused his time on his teaching at Quinnipiac University, where he taught health care law; the board of directors of New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital; and was a founding trustee of Foundations in Education, a non-profit initiative created to support elementary education through student scholarships and professional development for elementary school teachers. He was also a Knight Commander of the Grand Order of the Holy Sepulchre, a Catholic order.
Gerry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Martha; his children, Mark (Karin) and Elizabeth (Rohit T. Aggarwala) and five grandchildren whom he absolutely adored.
Friends may call on Monday, May 30th from 5-7PM at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St., Newtown, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 31st at 10 AM, at Saint Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, followed by a private burial. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor or Gerry may be directed to Foundations in Education, New York-Presbyterian Queens or Danbury Hospital.
Gerry was born on October 5, 1940, in New York City, and grew up in Greenwich Village with his parents, Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Victoria Robilotti. He graduated from Manhattan College in 1965 and completed his Master’s in Hospital Administration at Columbia University School of Public Health in 1971 and residency in hospital administration at the former Beekman Downtown Hospital.
In 1971, he joined Danbury Hospital as an assistant administrator, beginning what would be a 38-year career there. He became president of Danbury Hospital in 1987, and then led the hospital as Executive Vice President of Danbury Health Systems following the reorganization of the hospital into a regional network. During his tenure at Danbury, Gerry’s greatest legacy was enhancing the medical education programs making Danbury a regional teaching hospital for physician trainees and allied health professionals. He also led aggressive fundraising efforts as president of the Danbury Hospital Development Fund to establish the Praxair Cancer Center and the neonatal intensive care unit, among many other programs. In recognition of his contributions, the Gerard D. Robilotti Conference Center at Danbury Hospital was dedicated to him at his retirement in 2009.
Gerry was an active leader in the hospital administration and medical education communities. He taught at Western Connecticut State University, Quinnipiac College, University of Connecticut, and Yale University. He was associate dean and graduate studies officer at the New York Medical College. A longtime member of the Connecticut Hospital Association, he served as chair in 1998. He was Connecticut’s delegate at the American Hospital Association, and regent for Connecticut for the American College of Healthcare Executives. In these roles, he advocated frequently in Hartford and Washington on behalf of the state’s hospitals for sound health and health insurance policies. He was also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, at the Royal Society of Health, and the New York Academy of Medicine.
Gerry contributed to many efforts to promote and improve western Connecticut. He served as president of the Boy Scouts of America, Fairfield County Council; a member of the board of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce and the Western Connecticut State University Foundation; and a corporator of the Newtown Savings Bank.
After his retirement, Gerry focused his time on his teaching at Quinnipiac University, where he taught health care law; the board of directors of New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital; and was a founding trustee of Foundations in Education, a non-profit initiative created to support elementary education through student scholarships and professional development for elementary school teachers. He was also a Knight Commander of the Grand Order of the Holy Sepulchre, a Catholic order.
Gerry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Martha; his children, Mark (Karin) and Elizabeth (Rohit T. Aggarwala) and five grandchildren whom he absolutely adored.
Friends may call on Monday, May 30th from 5-7PM at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St., Newtown, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 31st at 10 AM, at Saint Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, followed by a private burial. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor or Gerry may be directed to Foundations in Education, New York-Presbyterian Queens or Danbury Hospital.