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Michael John Mastrangelo M.D., 93, of Fort Wayne passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 18,2021 after living a complete life filled with joy, service, and love. He was a generous and faith-filled man who made this world a better place. Dr. Mike was born December 27, 1927 in New Jersey, the son of the late Angelo and Angela Mastrangelo. He graduated from Georgetown University Medical School and served our country in the U.S. Army Medical Corp during the Korean War, receiving the Army’s Commendation and Combat Medic’s medals. After completing his surgical residency at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, he moved to Fort Wayne in 1959 to join a surgical practice. He quickly established his own practice of general, vascular, and thoracic surgery with Dr. August Tomusk which continued until Dr. Mike’s retirement in 1991.
His practice of surgery drove many innovations in Ft. Wayne, including the first renal dialysis, an aggressive approach to trauma surgery, and the development of cardio-thoracic surgery in Ft. Wayne along with his partner, Dr. Tomusk. All along, he strived to further his profession by chairing the Indiana State Medical Association and the Allen County Medical Society Foundation, as president of the Northeast Indiana Heart Association, and serving on the boards of Lutheran Hospital and the Allen County Medical Society, among others.
After retiring from surgery in 1991, Dr. Mike reinvented himself with a second 30-year career focused on public service and the development of his adopted city, to which he devoted himself after moving from New York. He received the Sagamore of the Wabash distinction in 2017, bestowed by Governor Holcomb.
He was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, a Knight of Malta and a member of Legatus. Dr. Mike was a driver in the development of the Matthew-25 Health and Care, serving as its Co-CEO, Chairman, and as a frequent volunteer. His love of classical music and his home-town orchestra spurred his involvement with the Ft. Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra of which he was a director, chairman and CEO, shepherding the organization out of financial jeopardy working toward its revitalization.
Additionally, Dr. Mike devoted himself to furthering our community with his involvement championing and serving on the boards of Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Ft. Wayne Chamber of Commerce, Allen County Library Foundation, Junior Achievement, St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation, University of St. Francis, The Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend, Community Harvest Food Bank, Parkview Hospital Foundation, The Mary Cross Tippman Foundation, Anthony Wayne Services, Ft. Wayne Museum of Art, and as a booster of Bishop Dwenger High School, among others.
Dr. Mike’s commitment to service has been honored with many awards including the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award, Junior Achievement’s Ove Jorgensen Spirit of Leadership award, American Heart Association’s Heartfelt Man of the Year Award, Bishop Dwenger High School’s Citizens of Two Worlds Award, Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s Helene Foellinger Award, Matthew-25 Health and Dental Clinic’s Fabric of the Community Award, Big Brothers, Big Sisters’ Don Wolfe Award for Community Service, Ft. Wayne Medical Society’s initial Exemplar Award, an Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree from the University of St. Francis, and the Sagamore of the Wabash distinction from the State of Indiana.
Dr. Mike’s career and civic endeavors were deservedly acknowledged. However, to his family, he is revered and loved as a father, friend, husband, counselor and advocate. Along with Grace, his wife of 55 years, he built a loving family and home, first in Brooklyn, then in downtown Fort Wayne, and finally on “the Farm” in 1980. To his grandchildren, Elizabeth, Patrick, Claire, Alex, Raina, Martin, Lucia, Michael, Dominic, Mia, and Rossella, he was “PopPop”.
Dr. Mike is survived by daughters, Nina (Jerry Wellman) Mastrangelo of Santa Fe, NM, and Paula (William O'Neill) Mastrangelo of Cary, NC; sons, Michael (Mary Katherine) Mastrangelo MD of Bend, OR, and Vincent (Kath
leen) Mastrangelo of Birmingham, MI; 11 grandchildren. Michael was preceded in death by his wife, Grace F Mastrangelo, daughters, Patricia M. and Mary Ann Mastrangelo, sons, Angelo and Anthony Mastrangelo, brothers, Ralph, Angelo, and Joseph Mastrangelo. Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:30 pm, Monday, April 26, 2021 at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 10700 Aboite Center RD with calling one hour prior. The family asks that anyone who has not received the Covid vaccine participate in the funeral via the livestream link found at SEASFW.org/livestream, available 15 minutes prior to the funeral start. Visitation will be held Saturday, April 24, 2021, from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave., Fort Wayne. Burial will be in Catholic Cemetery, Fort Wayne. Memorial contributions may be made to Matthew 25 or the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. To sign the online guest book, go to www.divinemercyfuneralhome.com