DiCuccio receives community award
BUTLER TWP — For his work in the medical field and as an overseas missionary, Dr. William DiCuccio was honored Tuesday by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd.
DiCuccio, 66, of Adams Township received a 3rd District Community Champion Award from Kelly at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where he is the medical director. He said he was shocked he received the award.
“I don't know what to say,” DiCuccio said. “Thank you.”
Kelly and his staff created the award in January to honor people in the district, which stretches from Erie County to Butler County, who are community service oriented. The award is given out quarterly, and DiCuccio is the third person to receive it.
Kelly said most people do not know who these people are.
“But what they do see every day is their life's work,” Kelly said.
DiCuccio is a 1966 graduate of Butler High School. After graduating from St. Vincent College, he received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College.
DiCuccio is the former vice president of medical affairs at Butler Memorial Hospital and ran his own medical practice in Butler for 30 years. In addition to being medical director at Sunnyview, he is a past executive director there. He also has served on numerous boards in the county.
He has traveled to the Dominican Republic to do mission work for several years. DiCuccio and his wife, Marge, started the Hope Project to help transform the village of Villa Hermosa. This includes an expanded church and a new school, water treatment plant and medical center.
Kelly said what DiCuccio has done has inspired people.
“He's influenced thousands of people,” Kelly said.
DiCuccio said he first started working at Sunnyview when he was 18-years-old — cutting the grass.
When he became the medical director in the 1980s, the facility had few Medicare beds. He immediately worked to make sure all beds there were Medicare and Medicaid approved. When he became executive director, he worked to get a $5 million state grant to begin improvements.
The facility was privatized in 2014, when Investment 360 of New Jersey bought it. DiCuccio said he was excited to be a part of the group and said Sunnyview will continue to expand.
“We're going to take Sunnyview to the next level,” DiCuccio said.
As far as his work in the Dominican Republic, he said his faith helped to guide him.
“When God convicts you about something, you do it. You have to do it,” DiCuccio said. “When you do it, he helps you.”
DiCuccio will retire as medical director soon, to be replaced by Dr. John Rocchi. DiCuccio will stay on in a medical development capacity.
As a part of the award, DiCuccio received a plaque, a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol building and a statement of congratulations entered into the Congressional Record.
