Obituary of Dr. Charles Anthony Shioleno

Dr. Charles Anthony Shioleno, affectionately nicknamed “Doc” by his grandchildren and “Chas” by his friends and family, passed away on May 30, 2024, with the loving support of his family. He was 73.

Chas was born on January 26, 1951 in Erie, Pennsylvania, the middle child of Lewis J. Shioleno, Sr. and Grayce Rizzo. He resided in North East, PA until his family moved to Erie in 1956. He attended St. George Grade School, graduating in 1965, and attended high school at Cathedral Preparatory in Erie, graduating with honors in 1969. He then attended the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with high honors and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in 1973. From there, he graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine with honors and completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh-UPMC/Presbyterian Hospital. He finalized his training at Penn State Health/Hershey Medical Center (where his daughter, Andrea, would later graduate from medical school in 2013) with a fellowship in Interventional Cardiology.

A brilliant physician by trade, and an architect at heart, he envisioned a life for himself and his family, which he then brought to fruition through his incredible work ethic. From a young age, he knew his calling was medicine. After completing his medical training and beginning his career as an attending at Morristown Medical Center, he founded Morris County Cardiology Consultants (later Atlantic Cardiology Group) in 1986, and over the course of 34 years built it into one of the preeminent cardiology practices in the tri-state area, subsequently expanding the practice locations into Morristown and Bridgewater. It continues to thrive today. Over the course of his long and distinguished medical career, he won several Top Doctor awards, cared for thousands of patients in Mendham and the surrounding communities, and impacted countless lives as a teacher, mentor and colleague. Despite his slender frame, he had a quiet yet commanding presence - nurses and doctors said that everyone would part in reverence as he walked down the halls of the hospital or the office. Chas was generous with his time, possessed unimpeachable integrity, and was absolutely dedicated to the practice of medicine and the care of his patients. He often reflected on the good fortune of spending a lifetime doing exactly what he loved.

Outside of the office, he was a true Renaissance man - an avid and skilled golfer, a technology geek, an architecture buff, a car guru - and, above all, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and son.

His love of architecture and his intellectual curiosity prompted him to pore through books on the Greek Revival period and the classic homes of colonial Williamsburg. He put that interest to work on two projects that would define his life. First, the home he and his wife built at 24 Mt. Pleasant Road, Mendham, NJ, where for 34 years they would raise their children and share so many celebrations with family and friends. Second, his painstaking restoration of the 18th Century Ogden-Murphy House at 8 Tempe Wick Road in Mendham, NJ which served as his main office building, and for which he won an historical restoration award. It remains a landmark in Mendham to this day.

Chas had a reverent love for the game of golf. From the time he was a child growing up in Erie along with his father and brother, Chas played golf at a competitive level. Beginning at Lake Shore in Erie, followed by Roxiticus in Mendham, Hamilton Farm and finally Belfair and Berkeley Hall in South Carolina, Chas built lasting friendships on and off the golf course, shared his love of the game with his children and grandchildren, and was often found in his workshop regripping golf clubs for friends and family.

God, Country, Notre Dame. His love of the University of Notre Dame was legendary. A proud alumnus of the Class of 1973, ND banners could be seen hanging from the beams of his family room during football season, where he faithfully cheered the team through good seasons and some difficult ones. Trips to South Bend with his father (Class of 1949), brother (Class of 1974), and children (including Andrea, Class of 2008) were like trips to the Holy Land.

Chas firmly believed that anything worth doing was worth doing well. His life was a master class in commitment - to his wife, his family, his friends, his fellow ACG physicians, beloved staff, patients, colleagues at Morristown Medical Center, and anyone else in the world to whom he gave his solemn word. He lived a life that mattered. Upon his shoulders, he often carried the weight of so many that depended on him daily to move their lives forward and he never shied from that commitment. Throughout his life he set the stage for many to realize their successes. He was truly one of a kind and will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Louetta Roseto Shioleno (who he met when they were classmates in third grade at St. George School in Erie), and children, Emily Gerne (Donald) of Chatham, NJ; L. Charles Shioleno (Eleanor) of Yardley, PA; and Dr. Andrea Shioleno (Trevor) of Miami, FL. He leaves behind a legacy in his four grandchildren, who he also hopes inherited his golf swing: Finn Charles, Reese and Gray Gerne; and Bennett Leafe. He is also survived by his siblings, Mary Grayce Shioleno and Lewis J. Shioleno, Jr.

To honor Chas’ memory, a wake will be held at Bailey Funeral Home, Mendham on Monday, June 10th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Church, Mendham on Tuesday, June 11th at 11:00 a.m.  Mass will also be live streamed at the following link.  Please click here to attend virtually.

In lieu of flowers, the family of Dr. Charles A. Shioleno respectfully requests contributions in his name to the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute c/o the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center, 310 South Street, 4th Floor, Morristown, NJ 07960. Donations may also be made online at f4mmc.org/donate.