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Gaspar Santos
November 16, 1929 to September 3, 2022
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Gaspar A. Santos, 92, of Neshannock, PA, formerly of Punxsutawney, PA, passed away on Saturday, September 3 in New Castle, PA at Jameson Hospital. He was born November 16, 1929 in Manila, Philippines, the son of the late Casto and Romana Alcaraz Santos.
He was a parishioner at Saints Cosmas and Damian Roman Catholic Church in Punxsutawney where he was an organist and eucharistic minister. He was also a member of the Secular Franciscan Order and most recently attended St. Mary Catholic Church in New Castle, PA.
He began playing piano at the age of 5 but did not take it seriously until high school when the schools were shut down because of WW II. When he returned to high school, he went on to win five musicianship awards. He received his medical degree from University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines in 1956, specializing in Pediatrics and Adult Medicine.
He attended a musical conservatorship in the Philippines until he had an opportunity to move to the United States where he underwent an internship at St. Francis Hospital in La Cross, WI and residency and fellowship in Cleveland, OH. It was in Cleveland that he met his wife, Hermenegilda (“Hermie”). They moved to Punxsutawney in 1968 where they married. He then opened a private medical practice where he saw patients at all hours, anytime he was needed and regardless of appointment or means. In total, he practiced medicine for over 50 years, during which time he also served as school physician in the Punxsutawney area school district for 20 years and was a health clinician for the Punxsutawney Area State Health Clinic, the Sykesville and Reynoldsville Well Baby Clinic, and the Marion Center Well Baby Clinic.
While practicing medicine, he earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance and composition from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He went on to form the Punxsutawney Phil Harmonic Symphonette and wrote, composed, and conducted several original musicals and countless orchestral performances.
His love of music and medicine was shadowed only by his love for his wife of 53yrs, Hermie, and his four children: Mauricio Santos of Boston, MA; Mary Jo Byron, PA-C (Glenn) of Castle Pines, CO; Dr. Johanna Nogay (Donny) of Neshannock, PA; and Dr. Tad Santos (Leia) of Delmont, PA. Additionally, he is survived by seven beautiful grandchildren: Neleh, Aaralyn, and Jaidon Nogay; Mya, Ella and Jacob Santos; and Shane Byron.
A private memorial Mass celebrated by Fr. Joseph McCaffrey, Pastor, was held at Holy Spirit Parish, St. Camillus Church in New Castle, PA on Saturday, September 10, 2022.
Eternal rest grant unto Gaspar, O Lord. Let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
