In Memoriam

Dr. Ronald Alan Robins
1946-2024

Dr. Ronald Alan Robins died peacefully on March 16 at the age of 77. Ronnie was born on November 12, 1946, in Houston, Texas, where he cultivated lifelong friendships both in his personal and professional relationships. Ronnie loved life and lived by high ethical standards to work hard, accept people for who they are, and be respectful of the beliefs and opinions of others. He valued family, education, trustworthiness, self-reliance, and friendship. He embraced the concept of living a good life to its fullest. In all matters, Ronnie was all in. An honors graduate of San Jacinto High School (Class of 1963), he was regarded as a talented, competitive athlete, both as a swimmer and linebacker for his high school team. Throughout his life, he continued to love sports and the outdoors, both as an enthusiastic spectator and an avid hunter and fisherman.

After graduating from high school, Ronnie attended Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, where he was an active member of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity. After college, he matriculated to the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. Returning to Houston after graduation, he earned a reputation as an accomplished podiatrist and astute business investor. Ronnie was partners with his cousin Drew Robins at Continental Silverline Products, a wholesale mattress manufacturing company that was started by Ronnie and Drew's fathers over seventy years ago. Respected and loved by his patients, Ronnie was in private practice at the same location in Spring Branch and for over 40 years while on staff at Spring Branch Hospital and Memorial Hermann-Memorial City Hospital. A skilled and compassionate doctor, Ronnie generously mentored countless new doctors in the field of podiatry and willingly responded to the needs of others, during and beyond office hours. His patients, family, and friends respected his sound advice and unwavering advocacy, whether in the office, in surgery, or by their bedsides where he quietly comforted them and demonstrated his genuine empathy and concern.

With him through it all was his devoted wife Jackie, who shared his love of adventure. Together, they made friends and saw the world. Jackie's happy and easy-going personality, paired with Ronnie's intellect, wit, and irreverence ensured they never met a stranger. When they weren't traveling and making new friends, Jackie and Ronnie were spending time with family, friends and loved ones. A life-long Houstonian, Ronnie had deep roots and relationships throughout the community, many of which lasted his lifetime.

Preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Sylvia Robins, Ronnie is survived by his beloved wife, Jackie Fontenot Robins; son, Kevin Robins and his wife Sara; sisters Barbara Friedman and Linda Robins; grandchildren Eva Elyse Robins and Rhett Robins; cousin Drew Robins and his wife Edna; sister-in-law Cassie McCain and her husband Bill; and sister-in-law Mary Gayle Fontenot.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Christopher Logothetis and MD Anderson Cancer Center for their care and support, as well as the team at the Concierge Clinicians of Houston who provided such loving care to Ronnie at the end of his life. According to his wishes, Ronnie's family gathered for a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Gulf Coast Conservation Association, CCA Texas, 6919 Portwest Drive, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77024, or the charity of your choice.

Funeral Home - Neptune Society - Houston, 2901 W Loop South Suite 102, Houston, TX

Published by Houston Chronicle from Mar. 20 to Mar. 24, 2024.

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Dr. David H. Korfin, DPM, died on June 9, 2023. He was born on October 21, 1956, in Elizabeth, NJ to parents Alvin and Lee Korfin. When he was 10, the family moved to Allentown, PA. David graduated from William Allen High School in 1974 and then from the University of Pittsburgh in 1978.

After graduating from Pitt, he attended the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia and received his doctorate in 1982. He moved to Houston that year and enrolled in and completed a 2-year surgical residency at the Harris County Podiatric Surgical Residency Program. Dr. Korfin was a Board Certified foot and ankle surgeon specializing in reconstructive procedures. Among his many professional affiliations, he was a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, a Diplomat of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, and was Board certified in Wound Care by the American Academy of Wound Management. He was past president and current member of the Harris County Podiatric Medical Society and was a member of both the Texas and American Podiatric Medical Associations. He maintained a private practice in Sugar Land and was affiliated with St. Luke’s Health-Sugarland Hospital, Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital, River Oaks Surgical Center, and Texas Sports Medicine Institute.

Dr. Korfin followed in his father’s footsteps and was an avid golfer. He was also a huge Houston Astros fan.

He is pre-deceased by his father Alvin Korfin. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Korfin, and daughter Katherine, daughter Alison Korfin and grandchildren Ethan, Emma, and Ellie, mother Lee Korfin, sister Beverly (Andrea) Korfin, brother Steven (Liz) Korfin, niece Lisa (Andrew) Yanowitz and great niece Riley, niece Ali (Corey) Black and nephew Zach (Sarah) Korfin.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Samuel “Mendo” Mendicino on Sunday, July 24, 2022. He is survived by his children Hannah Mendicino and Sammy Mendicino, his parents Margaret and Sam Mendicino and his brothers John Mendicino and Robert “Bobby” Mendicino. He was a hero to many in the Podiatric profession, especially those who he taught and mentored as both Residency Director and President of the Greater Texas Education Foundation. His passing is a huge loss for our program and the Podiatric community at large. Many people will write their own tributes to Dr. Mendicino and his many accomplishments, but it is his contributions to our program for which all of us owe such a deep gratitude.

After graduating from Scholl School of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago, IL, Dr. Mendicino set his sights on the Harris County Podiatric Surgical Residency (now the HCA Houston Healthcare, West Podiatric Medical and Surgical Residency) in Houston, TX, which, at the time, was one of only a handful of two-year surgical residencies in the country. Here he developed his skills as a surgeon, often working on cases using new reconstructive techniques. Sam served as Chief Resident in his final year and forged many long-lasting relationships with his fellow residents and attendings. After graduating from Harris County in 1985, Dr. Mendicino started his career back in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, opening up a private practice. It was not long before he began a life-long pursuit of giving back to the Podiatric profession and its future practitioners, starting first as a member of the Clinical Teaching Staff at The Podiatry Hospital of Pittsburgh and later a member of the Surgical Residency Training Committee, among other positions. It is this legacy as a teacher and mentor (he liked to call himself a ‘seed planter’) that will live on in the hearts and minds of the many podiatrists — or as he would correctly say “foot and ankle specialists” — he has taught through his career. When he became the director of the Harris County Podiatric Surgical Residency Program in 1995, it was sponsored by Westbury Hospital with its residents working out of a single patient room. He promptly moved the program, first to Bellaire Hospital and finally to our current home at HCA Houston Healthcare, West (formerly West Houston Medical Center). Over his 25 years term as Residency Director, he worked tirelessly to make the Harris County program one of the top residencies in the country including a focus on increasing residents’ salaries and developing a learning center for the residents with state-of-the-art equipment, including Fluoroscopy, arthroscopy towers and cadaver limbs for each resident at West and our sister program at Kingwood. Much of this was possible, also under Sam’s leadership, by the formation of the Greater Texas Education Foundation to support residency growth and education. Many who have gone on to leadership roles as residency directors, board members and presidents of the American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgeons, have been taught and mentored by Dr. Mendicino. He did this by example as he himself has been in all of these positions. His energies never seemed to dim when it came to giving back to the profession both locally and nationally, starting with President of the Harris County Podiatric Medical Society, Board member and then President of the Texas Podiatric Medical Association, board member then President of the American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery, Chairman of the Scientific Meeting for the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons among many of his titles. Not only did he serve, but his leadership helped shape changes to policies to improve the profession.

The news of Dr. Mendicino’s passing has shocked his colleagues at the hospital and their tributes and condolences continue to pour into the offices at GTEF and his former clinic. When Dr. Mendicino joined the staff at West Houston Medical Center, he was an instant friend to all, sharing his special brand of wit and humor with colleagues in the doctors’ dining room. Sam served on numerous committees in the hospital including being elected for back-to-back terms as Chairman of the Surgery Department. Under his leadership, he helped establish the delineation of privileges for podiatry at West Houston Hospital and it was also his strong reputation with the medical staff that helped podiatrists obtain H&P privileges.