Phillip John Catanzaro, MD. PhD

Dr. Phillip Catanzaro passed peacefully and in the presence of his family March 22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. Phillip was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was the grandson of Sicilian immigrants, son of Peter and Isabelle Catanzaro, and brother to Phyllis (Garet). He attended St. Peter’s Prep Jesuit High School and St. Peter’s University, both in Jersey City. He received his medical degree from Cornell Medical School in New York City in 1965, and completed a PhD in immunology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He was then drafted into military service with the United States Army and served at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, D.C., receiving an honorable discharge with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1975.

Dr. Catanzaro worked in both pathology and radiation oncology, which is somewhat uncommon and reflects a background in both diagnostic and treatment disciplines. He was a clinical pathologist at University Hospitals of Cleveland before becoming director of Laboratory Services at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cleveland. He was involved in research and teaching and achieved a rank of associate professor through Case Western Reserve University. He was associated with multiple scientific publications focused on immunology, infectious disease models, and cancer biology and immune response. He was a founding member of the Community Oncology Group, which eventually merged with the Cleveland Clinic, where he worked until his retirement in 2014. He was respected by his colleagues and loved by his patients.

In 1962, he met Linda Rumsey, then a nursing student, in New York City. He asked to take her for a walk in Central Park and they have been walking together ever since, marrying in East Stroudsburg, PA in 1963. After stays in New York City, Kansas City, and Washington D.C., they came to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975, making it their permanent home. They lived for many years on Loyola Road in University Heights and were members of Gesu Parish.

Phil and Linda raised four children: Lisa Catanzaro (husband Dominic Preziosi) of Brooklyn, New York; Peter Catanzaro (wife Allison) of Cleveland Heights, Ohio; Andrew Catanzaro (wife Laurie) of Shaker Heights, Ohio; and Michael Catanzaro (wife Kim) of Alexandria, VA. He was the loving grandfather of 13 grandchildren: Patrick and Lucia; Alice, Isabel and Phillip; Nicholas, Grace, Amelia and James; Luke, Alex, Olivia and William; and the great grandfather of Haroun.

An avid lover of opera, history and advanced mathematics, Phil also was a fan of Cleveland sports teams, especially his beloved Cleveland Cavaliers. He was also a long-standing member of the the Cleveland Skating Club, where he developed many close relationships with members and staff.

The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in his name to The Ignatian Spirituality Project, 205 W. Monroe St., Suite 317 Chicago, IL 60606; or The N.E. Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, 3631 Perkins Ave., #3, Cleveland, OH 44114 or The Edna House for Women, PO Box 602686, Cleveland, OH 44102.

A Funeral Mass will be held, Friday, March 27th at 10 am in The Church of St. Dominic, 19000 Van Aken Blvd., (at Norwood Rd., ) Shaker Hts., OH 44122. After the Mass, there will be a luncheon at the Cleveland Skating Club, 2500 Kemper Rd., Cleveland, OH 44120. This service will be livestreamed. You may access by hitting the button below.

Livestream Service

FRIENDS MAY CALL AT BROWN-FORWARD, 17022 CHAGRIN BLVD., SHAKER HTS., OH 44120, THURSDAY, MARCH 26TH FROM 4-6PM.