Dr. Nelson Torre, the founding medical director of the Physician Assistant Program at Daemen University, passed away on April 22, 2023, at the age of 88.
“Dr. Torre was a wonderful, committed, and renowned physician in Western New York,” said Dr. Michael Brogan, the executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “He also served as the founding medical director of our physician assistant program for 12 years. Dr. Torre’s standard of excellence, degree of community respect, and highly regarded reputation provided our Physician Assistant program with an incredible foundation and pathway to success.”
Dr. Torre co-founded the PA program in 1994 with former president Dr. Robert S. Marshall and Dr. Charles Reedy and served as the medical director until 2007. He also has represented Daemen at the national level as a commissioner for the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
“He provided invaluable guidance and mentorship to the junior faculty as the program developed and gained national accreditation,” said Dr. Gregg Shutts, professor and accreditation specialist for the university’s PA program. “Many of today’s faculty are descendants of those earlier years and we will be forever grateful for his contributions. He was my mentor and a great friend.”
Dr. Torre and his wife Joyce, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from Daemen after she finished raising her children, went on to establish the Joyce Barrett Torre, ’90, and Nelson P. Torre, M.D., Endowed Scholarship Fund at the university. The gift provides merit-based scholarships to physician assistant and English majors.
He leaves behind his wife Joyce of 65 years, four children, and 11 grandchildren.
A memorial service for Dr. Torre will be held at the Perna, Dengler, Roberts Funeral Home at 1671 Maple Road, Williamsville, NY 14221 on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 11 a.m.