Dr. Gianpaolo Maestrone, 1930-2009

Dr. Gianpaolo “Paul” Maestrone, a worldly man known for his research efforts with Parkinson’s disease, died yesterday at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. He was 79. 

    Born in Bergamo, Italy, Dr. Maestrone graduated magna cum laude with a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Milan, where he became a professor at the age of 23. He first came to the United States in 1953 as a Fulbright Scholar at Iowa State University. He lived in New Brighton until 1956, then lived in Grasmere for 33 years before settling in Dongan Hills 20 years ago. 

    Board certified from the American College of Veterinary Medicine in 1967, Dr. Maestrone held many research positions, starting with the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan for four years, E.R. Squibb in New Brunswick, N.J., for five years and Hoffman-LaRoche, Inc., in Nutley, N.J., for 20 years. 

    But Dr. Maestrone is mostly known for his deep involvement in Parkinson’s disease research. Following in the footsteps of his father-in-law, who founded the American Parkinson Disease Association, Dr. Maestrone created the Italian Parkinson Disease Association. 

    He also served for more than 20 years as the director of scientific and medical affairs for the Grasmere-based American Parkinson Disease Association. He was instrumental in developing the World Parkinson Disease Association, the largest such grassroots organization, involving 25 countries and serving 1.5 million Americans with Parkinson’s. 

    Dr. Maestrone also holds several patents and has authored 50 scientific papers. Among his contributions, he was credited with creating the I & R (Information and Referral) concept, a networking program through which people with Parkinson’s and their families can find information and support. He was instrumental in securing funding for a $30 million research program about the disease. 

    He has held memberships with the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American College of Veterinary Microbiology, the New York Academy of Medicine, the American Society for Microbiology, the Theobald Smith Society, the Industrial Veterinarians Association and the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases. 

    During his spare time, he read mystery and historical novels and took pride in his vegetable and flower garden. He also blended his hobby of photography with his passion for spending time with family. 

    Family members said he was a wealth of knowledge and an intriguing man. 

    “He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather,” said his daughter, Elizabeth N. Braun. “He was a real people person, very intelligent and always eager to help others.” 

    In addition to his daughter, he is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sophia; a son, Frank S. Maestrone; another daughter, Elena F. Imperato; seven grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. 

    The funeral will be Thursday from the Virginia Funeral Chapel, Dongan Hills, with a 10 a.m. mass at St. Ann’s R.C. Church, also in Dongan Hills. Burial will follow at Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.