Obituary of Dr. Edward J. Sarcione

A native of North Andover, Massachusetts, Edward J. Sarcione graduated from Johnson High School in 1943. During World War II he served as a combat infantryman with the 69th Infantry Division in France, Belgium and Germany during the years of 1944-45. He was among the first American Soldiers to participate in the historic link-up of the American and Soviet Armies on the Elbe River, Torgau, Germany in 1945. His military decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal. He was a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS, the Medical Staff College, Fort Sam Houston, TX, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forced, Fort McNair, Washington, DC. During his 37 years of active and reserve military service he was promoted to the rank of full colonel (06) After graduation from St. Michael’s College, Colchester, VT 1948 with a BS in chemistry, Edward J. Sarcione was selected to join a group sponsored by the University of Vermont and the US State Department to study and report on the Marshall Plan in Europe. He was awarded his Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry from Kansas University in 1955 and joined the scientific staff of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute (Buffalo, NY) as a cancer research scientist. During his scientific career at the Institute Dr. Sarcione authored more than 75 original scientific papers related to liver and breast cancer and presented numerous lectures at National and International meetings. In 1967 he was awarded the prestigious Eleanor Roosevelt Fellowship of the American Cancer Society and spent a sabbatical year as a visiting professor at the French National Cancer Institute, Paris, France. He also served as visiting professor at American College (Paris, France) in 1968 and at Harbin University (Harbin, China) in 1986. Dr. Sarcione was also appointed to a three-year term on the National Breast Cancer Task Force Committee, National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, MD) from the years 1976-79. In 1970 Dr. Sarcione was appointed Professor and Chair of the Cell Physiology Program in the Roswell Park Division of the University of Buffalo (Buffalo, NY) and he served in this capacity until his retirement as Professor Emeritus in 1991. Professor Sarcione was an active member of the Military Officers Association of America, American Association of Cancer Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Hamburg Power Squadron, Hamburg Rod and Gun Club, Buffalo Yacht Club, the Holimont Ski Club, and the Hamburg Methodist Church. He served as President of the Shaster Trout Fishing Club as well as President of the 69th Infantry Division Association. Professor Sarcione is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, the former Dolores “Dolly” Commons of Elwood, IN, and their three children; Professor Sharon Evans (Hamburg, NY; husband Dave), Edward Sarcione, Jr (Eden, NY; wife Valerie), and Colonel Stephen Sarcione, US Army Retired (Nebo, NC; wife Francine). He has four grandchildren; James (Boston, NY; wife Brenna) and Kaitlyn Evans (New York City, NY), and Rachel and Eddie Sarcione (Eden, NY). His other surviving family includes a brother Herbert Sarcione (Kingsport, TN). Family will receive friends Saturday, January 21st from 2-3:00pm where a Funeral service will take place at 3:00pm, additional viewing hours will be from 6-8 PM at the James W. Cannan Funeral Home, 3155 Orchard Park Road, Orchard Park, NY. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, Elm & Carlton Streets, Buffalo NY 14263.