Physician Salvatore Cucinotta

Salvatore J. Cucinotta, 96, of Cherry Hill, a decorated World War II battlefield physician who delivered babies in South Philadelphia for more than 50 years, died Sunday at home.

Dr. Cucinotta's parents moved to the United States from Sicily when he was a toddler. Growing up, he helped out in the family's cheese store in the Italian Market. He graduated from Roman Catholic High School, earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Villanova University, and graduated from Hahnemann University Medical School. He interned at the St. Agnes Medical Center in Philadelphia, where he met his future wife, Helen Murrin, a nurse.

During World War II, he served in the Navy as a medical officer in North Africa and Italy. In September 1943, he participated in the invasion of Salerno and treated British and American troops on the beach under heavy fire. He later set up a sick bay and first-aid station aboard a landing craft in the port of Naples. He was awarded the Bronze Star for valor.

While he was caring for the wounded in Italy, Dr. Cucinotta's family in Philadelphia received a telegram from the Navy saying he was missing and presumed dead. His relatives were surprised when he showed up at their door several months later, his son Salvatore said.

After the war, Dr. Cucinotta completed a residency in obstetrics, gynecology and surgery at a naval hospital in San Diego.

In 1946, after his discharge, he returned to Philadelphia and opened an office on Ninth Street. He later moved his office to South Broad Street, where his wife assisted him. Dr. Cucinotta practiced well into his 80s, and joked that he had delivered half of South Philadelphia. He learned to use hypnosis to eliminate patients' pain, his son said, and helped establish the Philadelphia Hypnosis Society in 1972.

Dr. Cucinotta was associated with Hahnemann University Hospital; St. Agnes Medical Center; Methodist, Graduate and St. Joseph's Hospitals; and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he directed a cervical cancer research project. He was teaching obstetrics to medical students at Hahnemann when he retired in the 1990s, his son said.

In addition to his son Salvatore, he is survived by sons Girard and John; a daughter, Joan Reteshka; and eight grandchildren. His wife died in 2000.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. tomorrow at St. Thomas More Church, 1439 Springdale Rd., Cherry Hill, where friends may call after 10. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill.