The Board of Directors and all medical and staff at Mammoth Hospital are shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden and unexpected death of our colleague and friend, Dr. Tomi Bortolazzo.
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“Dr. B” served as the sole urologist for the Eastern Sierra for the past 10 years. She was a respected member of the Northern Inyo Hospital and Mammoth Hospital Medical Staffs and served the past two years as the Chief of Staff at Mammoth Hospital.
She grew up frequently visiting the Mammoth Lakes area and made the transition here in 2005 with her husband, Ron, and two sons Randy and Russel. In addition to being a gifted physician and surgeon, wife, and mother, she loved the mountains and was an avid outdoor enthusiast and accomplished athlete who enjoyed skiing, hiking, riding dirt bikes, and flying.
Dr. Bortolazzo did her undergraduate training at University of California San Diego and was the captain of the women’s soccer team her senior year. She obtained her medical degree at Chicago Medical School and completed her residency training in Urology at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
She practiced for 11 years at San Antonio Community Hospital where she rose to be the first female Chief of Staff overseeing the activity of more than 500 physicians.
As one of relatively few female physicians in the specialty of Urology, Dr. Bortolazzo learned to stand her ground early on and earned her reputation as a staunch advocate for her patients demanding excellence of herself and all those around her.
She was very committed to providing quality care and responded to the needs of patients at both NIH and Mammoth at all hours of the day and night, on weekends and holidays, and frequently made house calls to check up on her elderly patients. The loss of her knowledge, skill, and compassion to our medical community leaves a great void.
Our hearts go out to her family, many friends and colleagues, and the thousands of patients who thought of her not only as their physician but also their friend.
Gary Myers, CEO
Mammoth Hospital
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Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, –and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of –Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air…
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew —
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Gone too soon. Love to family.
Leeann and Bob Blakemore
RIP… Dr. Tomi Bortolazzo!
You were one of the best physicians ever… Thank you for your kindness and excellent care. We will miss you very much. Our thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends.
Rick & Suzan
Such a classy lady…RIP, Doc
Dr. B. was an excellent surgeon and knowledgeable doctor as my husband can attest. Her passing is such a tragedy. Thoughts and prayers go out to her family, friends and co-workers at both hospitals. What a loss to Mono and Inyo Counties.
B. Richter
You were the best and will be remembered!!!! R.I.P.
R.I.P. Dr B.
Thank you for saving my life
You will be missed
She will be missed. My prayers and thoughts are with the family. Gone to soon!!! May she rest in piece…