Robert O. 'Bob' Baratta, M.D., 83, of Palm City, FL - beloved husband, father, and grandfather - passed away after a brief illness on September 15, 2024.

Bob was born on December 10, 1940, in Jersey City, NJ to Patrick and Irma Baratta. He was a proud 1958 graduate, and lifetime supporter, of Xavier High School, a Jesuit boys' school in Manhattan, where he played football and played the piano with the Glee Club. Bob continued his Jesuit education at St. Peter's College (now University) in Jersey City, NJ, graduating as a member of the Most Noble Order of the Peacock, awarded for academic merit. He was President of the pre-medical Mendel Society. During this time, Bob was the pianist in a popular dance band, the VelvaTones, playing at school and society venues as well as New Jersey weddings.

He attended Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons for medical school, where he was elected class president in his third year and P&S Club President. He served as Alumni Class Co-Chair ever since his graduation in 1966. He married his high school sweetheart, Carol Alvarez, on August 7, 1965, at the end of his third year of medical school. They began their marriage in New York City, spent time in Jacksonville, FL and Nashville, TN, before ultimately moving to Stuart, FL where they have lived for over 50 years and raised their three children.

Bob completed a medical internship and residency in medicine at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City and performed his military service obligation through the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. He spent three years at Vanderbilt Medical School and Hospital completing his residency in Ophthalmology, spending his final year as Chief Resident. Later, he served for ten years as a member of the Vanderbilt Eye Institute Advisory Board.

After moving to Stuart, FL he joined George Dinter, M.D. as the only two ophthalmologists in Martin County. Eventually, the practice expanded into Stuart Eye Institute. During his medical career, Bob was elected President of both the Martin Memorial Hospital Medical Staff and the Martin County Medical Society. He served as a board member of Martin Memorial Hospital and in leadership roles with the Florida Society of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He was awarded the Shaler Richardson Award on two occasions by the Florida Society of Ophthalmology for Service to Medicine.

He served on the State of Florida Medical Advisory Committee, the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Federal Reimbursement Committee, as an Examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology's oral examinations, and as an Adjunct Professor for Columbia University.

Bob had a variety of business roles as well, including serving as a member of Board of Directors, and as Chairman of the Board for nine years, of FPIC Insurance Group, a Nasdaq-traded company. Locally, he was a founding partner of Stuart Hatteras, Ascent Surgical Partners, the Ambassador Club, and the Sight Sea-Er, a local charter fishing boat among other ventures.
In his later years, Bob co-founded Stuart Therapeutics, Inc., and Sustain Holdings, which enabled him to perform translational research in developing novel therapeutics for previously untreatable eye diseases, as well as diseases elsewhere in the body. He co-authored eleven publications in his late 70's and early 80's.

He served in an Advisory role or Board member for many community organizations including St. Joseph School, St. Joseph Parish Council, Hospice of Martin County, the American Cancer Society, Save the River, Holy Redeemer Men's Society, the Stuart Sailfish Club, and a founding member of the Stuart Rod and Reel Club.

Tournament sailfishing and boating were his primary hobbies, along with golf. He was happiest when hooked up to a marlin. His 1,250 lb. black marlin caught off the Great Barrier Reef in Australia was a particularly proud accomplishment.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Irma Baratta, and sister, Patricia Parker. He is survived by Carol, his wife of 59 years, as well as his three children, Missy Mortell, Scott Baratta and Gregg Baratta, his daughter-in-law Carei Baratta, and 8 grandchildren and their families, Grant and Melanie Mortell, Reid Mortell, and Clark Mortell; Patrick, Elizabeth, and William Baratta; and Bayley and Bryce Needham.

There will be a visitation at Forest Hills Funeral Home in Palm City, FL on October 3, 2024 from 5:00pm – 7:00 pm, and a funeral mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Stuart, FL on October 4, 2024 at 11:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, his family kindly requests donations in his memory to Stuart Sailfish Club Foundation https://stuartsailfishclub.com or Treasure Coast Hospice Foundation https://www.treasurehealth.org