David L. Ravella, Jr., M.D.

David Lawrence Ravella, Jr., M.D. 

June 8, 1937 – August 1, 2022
 
Dr. Ravella was born in Swissvale, Pa., to David L. Ravella, Sr., D.D.S., and Mrs. Elaine Santy Ravella. (He was always fond of reminding people that there was a total eclipse of the sun that day.) David enjoyed many boyhood adventures growing up in Swissvale with his friends and brother, Richard (“Butch”). A lover of classical music, he began trombone studies with Neil Di Biase of the Toscanini Symphony Orchestra at age 6 and was proud to play with the Pittsburgh Symphony at age 18. David graduated from Swissvale High School in 1955. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1958 and his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1962.
 
Dr. Ravella began his medical career as a psychiatrist, first serving with the United States Public Health Service in Bethesda, Md. He then returned to Pittsburgh and went into private practice. He became the Director of the Community Mental Health Center in Greensburg, Pa., while also serving as the consulting psychiatrist for Alcoa. After fifteen years of psychiatric practice, he entered a residency in radiology at St. Francis Hospital. He worked with the private radiology group ALMAR until he retired. Feeling restless after retiring, he returned to work in radiology at the Butler Veterans Administration for five years and briefly taught nurse practitioners at Duquesne University.
 
Married to Joan Kohlhaas of Swissvale, Pa., in 1960, David had three daughters, Lisa (John) Rees, Charlotte, N.C.; Cara (Randy) Hartsock, Aspinwall, Pa.; and Amy (Jason) Gamble, Winston-Salem, N.C. In 1983, he married Catherine Dailey Wissolik and became step-father to Erica Wissolik, Washington, D.C., and Damien (Elaine) Wissolik, Gibsonia, Pa. For 39 years of marriage, David and Cathy lived in their Indiana Township home, sharing their love of medicine, music, movies, friends, and family. His family is enriched with eight grandchildren (Hayley, Alec, John, Lily, Ella, Emmett, Jason, and Rebecca) and two great grandchildren (Christopher and Lucas).
 
After living with cancer for over ten years, Dr. Ravella passed away peacefully in his home at 85 years old. He will be greatly missed by his loving family and many friends.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 10th from 4 - 8 p.m. at the WEDDELL-AJAK FUNERAL HOME, 100 Center Ave. Aspinwall.

A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, August 11th at 1 p.m. at Christ the King Parish, St. Joseph Church, 342 Dorseyville Rd. O'Hara Twp. Interment private.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (pittsburghsymphony.org/give)  or to the Family Hospice UPMC 700 Bower hill Road, Suite 6206, Pittsburgh, PA 15243.

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