Gabriel d'Amato, 87, lifelong student and teacher

0 Comments | Philadelphia Daily News, May, 2009 | by JOHN F. MORRISON morrisj@phillynews.com 215-854-5573

GABRIEL A. D'AMATO could have had a career as a classical pianist, but he chose medicine instead.

His choice turned out to be of great benefit to the mentally ill, especially children, and those who treat them. As a practicing child psychiatrist, researcher, consultant, teacher and author, he made important contributions to the field.

Gabriel d'Amato, an Army veteran of World War II who served as a flight surgeon in the Air Force in the early '50s, died April 15 at the age of 87. He lived in Center City.

Along with his distinguished medical career, Gabriel never neglected his music and performed with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra from 1959 to 1962, and with various quartets, as well as at home with family and friends.

Gabriel was born in Genoa, Italy, to...