David V. Rasa MD, RPh

David Vincent Rasa, MD, RPh, 68, died Thursday evening in The Valley Hospital, in Ridgewood, NJ surrounded by his wife Diane, son Mikey and daughter Nicole as well as close relatives and personal friends.

Well known throughout the Wayne community, Dr. Rasa was the founding partner of High Mountain Health Medical Group and was active with the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation and the Wayne Police Department and the Board of Education.

Born in Paterson, NJ, he graduated John F. Kennedy High School in 1968 and from Rutgers University in 1974. He earned his degree in Pharmacy from Rutgers and went on to study medicine at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara Mexico, earning his medical degree in 1981.

Dr. Rasa was certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and was a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the NJ Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association. In 2008, Dr. Rasa was honored by the St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital Foundation as “Distinguished Physician of the Year”.

Dr. Rasa built a loyal medical practice and was active in Wayne’s football and lacrosse programs and served as the physician to the Wayne Board of Education. He also served the local Wayne Policeman’s Benevolent Association. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed skiing, golfing, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends.

Dr. Rasa enjoyed life to the fullest. He would escape with his family and close friends to his home in Ludlow, VT. They would spend the entire day skiing on the slopes of Okemo Mountain. After a full day of activities, you could find him in the hot tub - regardless of the outside temperatures - with a glass of B&B and a big smile.  

David was well known for his hearty laugh, his excitement for next best gadget, his love of cars, photos, and antiques.  His name is synonymous with High Mountain Health.  He took great pride in his life’s work and all of the wonderful staff and patients that became his extended family.    His behavior and reputation are well known among family and friends. He was never at a loss for attending a family and friend’s functions whether at home in New Jersey or in Hawaii and California. David loved all animals and most recently his 3-year-old Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier who he named Vinny after his late brother Vincent. David’s look forward to these opportunities to relax and unwind.

Whether it was a day on the links, a day on the ski slopes or a day on the water fishing there was always lots of fun-cheer-and laughs with this bigger than life equal opportunity buster of family and friends. He would always use his smile and dimples to save him ..... and guess what….it almost always worked.  

He was also Chairman of the Annual Golf Sports Classic Outing at North Jersey Country Club for multiple years which raised funds for the St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital Foundation. He was responsible for starting the Annual Breast Cancer Walk in Wayne that raised funds for Breast Cancer Awareness and local scholarships as well.

He is survived by his wife Diane Rasa; his three children, his only son Michael, a senior at Wayne Hills High School who will be attending Manhattan College in September to play lacrosse; his daughter Nicole, a family medicine resident at Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine, and her fiancé Joe; and his daughter Davina, a graduate of Ohio Northern University School of Law. Also his Uncle Harry and Aunt Gloria, as well as his three sisters, Jean, Sharon and Georgia along with many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

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In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in David’s memory to the David Vincent Rasa, M.D., RPh Healthcare Scholarship Fund for a Wayne, NJ high school senior who is planning a career in healthcare-please mail to: David V Rasa MD RPh Healthcare Scholarship Fund,  PO Box 398, Ridgewood, NJ 07451.