Dr. Daniel Louis Dombroski, Sr.

On Sunday, March 13, Dr. Daniel Louis Dombroski, Sr., 86, of Camillus, New York was called home to God. He passed peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his loving family, at the University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Dombroski was born on March 27, 1935 in Syracuse, New York. At the age of 15, Daniel won the 1950 Soap Box Derby Championship race held in Schiller Park. In 1949, Daniel met the love of his life, Myra. After graduating valedictorian from Christian Brothers Academy in 1952 and then graduating from Le Moyne College in 1956, Daniel and Myra were married on June 28, 1958 at Saint Stephen’s Church. Together, they had five children: Daniel Jr., Stephen, Karen, David and Peter. A lifelong sailor, Daniel fondly named every boat he captained after his wife Myra, sailing the waterways of New York, Canada and the Caribbean for more than 60 years. Beginning in 2004, Daniel and Myra took up seasonal residence in Delray Beach, Florida. Daniel departs our earthly world just months shy of celebrating his 64th wedding anniversary with his bride Myra.

Daniel, known to many as “Dr. D,” went on to have an illustrious career as a general surgeon, although he proudly loved to reminisce about his first job as a salesman for the National Biscuit Company. In 1960, he graduated salutatorian with his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical Center and subsequently started his residency training for general surgery. After serving for two years in the United States Air Force, he returned to complete his surgical training at SUNY Upstate. In 1967, he started in private practice, eventually moving his practice to Community General Hospital where he was an attending Surgeon. He also served as Courtesy Staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Crouse Irving Hospital, and as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at SUNY Upstate Medical Center. The surgical skills and the personal attention and care he gave earned him the love and adoration of so many of his patients.

Throughout his surgical career, he was awarded a number of accolades and prominent leadership positions. In 1982, he was chosen as a Delegate to the Medical Society of the State of New York. From 1982-1983, he served as President of the Onondaga County Medical Society. Dr. Dombroski retired from surgery in 2012, after 45 years of practicing medicine.

Daniel loved and valued education and was a firm believer in the Jesuit’s intellectual approach to God and education. He was a supporter of both Christian Brothers Academy and Le Moyne College. He served on the Alumni Board Association in 1995 and on the Board of Regents from 1993-1999 and 2001-2007 at Le Moyne College. In 2001, Le Moyne College awarded Daniel the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Daniel, fondly called Dan, Danny, Dad and Grandpa by his loved ones, was proud of his Polish heritage and Catholic faith. A member of St. Joseph’s Church in Camillus, where he was a Eucharistic Minister, and Ascension Catholic Church in Boca Raton, Florida, Daniel loved to talk about God, philosophy and our place in the universe. At Christmas, he was always the first to break the Christmas wafer, a Polish tradition, and always the first to raise a glass—always a Manhattan—and proclaim “na zdrowie!”

Daniel is predeceased by his parents, Vincent and Frances (Neiczkowski); brothers, Vincent and Louis; and sister, Margaret Podoloski.

Surviving are his wife of 63 years, the former Myra Janocsko; daughter, Karen (Joseph) Meaney of Damascus, MD; sons, Daniel (Michele) Jr. of Clifton Park, Stephen (Laura) of Franklin, MA, Dr. David of Rochester and Peter of Pittsford; grandchildren, Christine (Justin) Oh, Melissa, Elizabeth, Katherine (Dan) Tilley, Kendra, Ryan, Caitlin, Evan, Eden, and Adam; brother, Thomas (Maryann) of Oswego; and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may call Friday, March 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, March 19 at 12:30 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, 5600 W. Genesee St., Camillus. Daniel will be laid to rest in St. Mary’s Cemetery, DeWitt.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Francis House, 108 Michaels Ave., Syracuse, NY 13208, St. Joseph’s Church, 5600 W. Genesee St., Camillus, NY 13031 or to your favorite charity.