Mr. Richard Condorelli was born in Catania, Sicily. As a young man he moved to the United States where he became a teacher. Mr. Condorelli had extensive knowledge of Hinduism and was a devotee at Hare Krishna temple in Boston. Over the years, Mr. Condorelli and Dr. Patel built a close friendship that transcended the normal doctor-patient relationship. He became a fatherly figure for Dr. Patel, who had a profound influence on his life through dental work.
Upon Mr. Condorelli’s death, Dr. Patel traveled to India and disposed of his friend’s remains in a traditional Indian ceremony, as he would have done for his own father. His remains were honorably disposed of at Panchvati in Nasik, Maharashtra. It was during the road trip from Surat to Nasik that the beauty and poverty of Dang inspired Dr. Patel to do something to help the region’s tribal inhabitants. On the way back from Nasik, a chance meeting with a government officer in Ahwa alerted Dr. Patel to the utter lack of healthcare in Dang district.
A few months later, Dr. Patel was astounded to hear that Mr. Condorelli had left him his entire savings. He used the money to found Richard Condorelli Memorial Foundation and KJP Charitable Trust. These foundations conceived Kiran C. Patel Multi-Specialty Hospital, a world-class healthcare facility, nearing completion, being built in Ahwa, Dang, Gujarat, India. The functional clininc in the hospital complex is benefitting thousands of underprivileged tribal people of Dang and surrounding areas.
Mr. Condorelli’s legacy will continue in a much bigger way once the hospital is fully functional – a goal which is nearing completion. He is missed dearly and will always be remembered.
