Jump to content

  • Set Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
Set Your LocationSet Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Book Appointment
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
    • Book Appointment
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Patient Stories
  • A Grateful Patient Says Grazie
Content

PATIENT STORIES A Grateful Patient Says Grazie

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Eden Medical Center

As a little girl, Jane Ratto loved everything Italian. Both of her parents’ families hailed from an area near Genoa, Italy, and she studied Italian in school. When she met Vincenzo Traversa, an Italian and humanities professor, he called her by her Italian name, Gina—and that is the only name she has used ever since.

We are forever indebted to PAMF and Eden.

In more than 30 years of marriage, Gina and Vincenzo, who passed away in August 2019, spent just one night apart. When Vincenzo fractured his left wrist in 2003, his primary care physician, retired Palo Alto Medical Foundation internist Cal Brenneman, M.D., referred him to PAMF orthopedist James Hartford, M.D. Dr. Hartford placed four pins in his wrist, requiring Vincenzo to spend one night in the hospital.

“That was the only night we were apart in our entire marriage,” Gina says. “I remember him pacing the hallways the next morning ready to come home, but we did grow fond of the orthopedist and looked forward to follow-up visits.”

The healthcare Gina and Vincenzo received from Sutter Health throughout their lives spanned the Bay Area from Castro Valley to the Silicon Valley. During times of critical care needs for Gina’s mother, Vincenzo and also Vincenzo’s first wife, Sandra, PAMF and Eden Medical Center were pillars of excellence.

“All of the compassionate doctors and staff have been the best we could have had,” Gina says. “We are forever indebted to PAMF and Eden. Vincenzo and I decided long ago to leave a great part of our estate to PAMF to honor a lifetime of care.”

Vincenzo first forged a connection with PAMF while teaching at Stanford University in the 1960s. Renowned PAMF leader Robert Jamplis, M.D., was Sandra’s doctor as she faced melanoma. In fact, even after Vincenzo joined the French and Italian department at the University of Kansas, the couple returned to PAMF for Sandra’s cancer care. She ultimately lost her battle with the disease, but the two families formed a very tight bond, and for years afterward, Vincenzo and second wife Gina traveled regularly from the East Bay to Palo Alto for their care.

“Bob Jamplis was like a brother to Vincenzo,” Gina recalls. "Vincenzo credits him for giving him an additional 12 years with Sandra, and it is because of those early connections that we have had a continuous connection with PAMF and Eden.”

Committed to His Craft

Vincenzo had a distinguished academic career in humanities, modern languages and literatures, starting in 1957 at the University of California, Los Angeles and culminating in 40 years at California State University, East Bay. Gina graduated from Cal State East Bay and worked at the university for 44 years, many of them as an administrator in the Office of Academic Affairs, before retiring in October 2019. The couple commuted to and from work together every single day.

Vincenzo was a prolific author of more than 20 books, including three editions of a textbook used for first-year Italian studies,Parola e Pensiero: Introduzione alla Lingua Italiana Moderna. He also appeared regularly on an Italian-language television program in San Francisco. And in 1986, the president of Italy presented Vincenzo with the honor of Knight in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Cavaliere nell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana) for his longstanding service and achievements in the academic world and broader community.

In 2010, a bout with wet macular degeneration—a chronic eye disorder that causes blurred vision or a blind spot—could have ended Vincenzo’s writing career. His PAMF Fremont ophthalmologist, Timothy Scott, M.D., who had performed a successful cataract surgery on Vincenzo in 2004, diagnosed the condition and referred him to Tanya Ghosh, M.D., at the PAMF Munnerlyn Eye Institute in Mountain View.

“First, Dr. Ghosh commented on the excellent cataract surgery Vincenzo had already had,” Gina recalls. “She lifted his spirits not only by fixing his eyesight but also by becoming a true friend.”

The treatment Vincenzo received was actually a cancer medication that had been found effective for wet macular degeneration, and it improved his vision dramatically. He went on to publish two more scholarly books and was working on two more when he passed away.

Honoring Exceptional Care

Although Vincenzo introduced Gina to PAMF, her connection to the Sutter Health network is equally strong. When her primary care doctor retired, she began receiving care in Palo Alto from Austin Clark, M.D. Eventually, the couple joined the PAMF Encina practice.

“Palo Alto was like our second home,” Gina says. “Vincenzo loved the area so much that we traveled there most weekends. I know we are not alone in our commitment and the gratitude we feel toward the healthcare we have received.”

Gina is also thankful for the care her mother received at Eden Medical Center while suffering from severe lung disease. And more recently, at the end of Vincenzo’s life, Gina spent several days by his side in the Eden intensive care unit.

“We were privileged to have such wonderful care at the Eden ICU,” she says. “Throughout 2020, I reflected that if his illness had come a little later, staying by his bedside in the middle of a pandemic would not have been possible. That has helped comfort me a bit with his loss.”

Gina can also take comfort in the fact that her and Vincenzo’s generosity will ensure that community members have access to the same exceptional care.

“We are grateful for our decades-long relationship with the Traversa family and honored that they chose to include a gift to Sutter Health in their estate plan,” says Ryan Lee, director of gift planning for Sutter Health Bay Area. “Their generosity will impact our cancer and research programs for decades to come.”

Related Stories

Building a Powerful Network for Mental Healthcare

Tech leader steps up to support mental health concerns during pandemic.

Your Gifts In Action in the East Bay

The Grants and Disbursements program allows philanthropy to grant awards to directly impact patient care.

Research and Philanthropy Partner to Combat Vision Loss

Innovation and philanthropy are often a powerful combination that have helped usher new devices, drugs or surgical approaches to the forefront

Routine Cancer Screenings Save Lives

A routine colonoscopy helped Brian Jeffs catch cancer early.

Paying It Forward

The Colbys were happy to know their gifts allowed Sutter Davis Hospital to purchase life-saving equipment, renovate existing facilities and more.

See all Donor Stories

Disclaimer

Each individual’s treatment and/or results may vary based upon circumstances and the healthcare provider’s medical judgment. Testimonials or statements made by any person(s) within this site are not intended to guarantee outcomes or substitute for medical advice.

The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

  • Contact Us
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Book Appointment
  • Request Medical Records
  • Donate Now
Sign in to My Health Online

Billing and Insurance

  • Pay a Bill
  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Estimate Costs
  • Medicare Advantage

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Community Benefit
  • Annual Report
  • News and Media

Our Team

  • For Employees
  • For Medical Professionals
  • For Vendors
  • For Volunteers

Careers

  • Jobs at Sutter
  • Physician Jobs
  • Graduate Medical Education

Copyright © 2023 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

  • ADA Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • LinkedIn Opens new window
  • YouTube Opens new window
  • Facebook Opens new window
  • Twitter Opens new window
  • Instagram Opens new window
  • Glassdoor Opens new window

Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences