LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Jose S. Sambursky, MD,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Jose S. Sambursky, MD, died in Vestal, New York, at the age
of 78; and
WHEREAS, In 1959, Jose S. Sambursky moved to Binghamton, New York,
from Rio de Janeiro, and began his internship in Internal Medicine at
Wilson Memorial Hospital; and
WHEREAS, He married Joyce Werner on August 14, 1960; he then completed
a postgraduate ophthalmology program at the University of Pennsylvania
before entering an ophthalmology residency at Manhattan Eye and Ear
Hospital, which he finished in 1963; and
WHEREAS, After completion of his residency, he was awarded a fellow-
ship in Advanced Anterior Segment Surgery and Retinal Surgery at the
prestigious Barraquer Institute in Barcelona, Spain, from 1963 to 1964;
and
WHEREAS, Following his fellowship, Jose and his wife and their two
young children moved to Rio de Janeiro where he began his career in
ophthalmology; after three years, the Sambursky family moved back to
Binghamton, New York, where he joined his father-in-law, George B.
Werner, MD, in the practice of ophthalmology establishing Ophthalmic
Associates of the Southern Tier; and
WHEREAS, In 1971, his third son was born; Dr. Jose S. Sambursky was a
man dedicated to his family, his friends and his patients; he loved the
practice of medicine and was enthusiastic about teaching medicine to
students and residents; he was skillful in both the medical and surgical
care of each patient; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Jose S. Sambursky distinguished himself in his profession
and by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the
welfare of his community; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Jose S. Sambursky's passion was not restricted to just
medicine; it overflowed into his love for soccer and his family; he
coached all his children on and off the soccer field, teaching lessons
of life as well as sport; furthermore, he coached Vestal Youth Soccer
for many years, and even took two travel teams to Europe; and
WHEREAS, He treated his players as family and served as a role model
on and off the soccer field; as an ophthalmologist, he was always at the
forefront of surgical techniques; he was one of the first eye surgeons
in the United States to implant an intraocular lens which is now a
common practice during cataract surgery; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, Dr. Jose S. Sambursky was the first in his area to
offer patients corneal transplantation as well as being one of the first
in all of New York State; and
WHEREAS, This outstanding individual gave back to his community in
numerous ways including by not charging patients who could not afford
his care; for most of his career, he worked for one month a year in
Brazil helping those less fortunate and bringing his expertise to South
America; and
WHEREAS, He was passionate about teaching and was truly a complete
ophthalmologist, being great at many different aspects of the medical
and surgical treatment of eye diseases; and

WHEREAS, Later in his career, he incorporated an ocular diagnostic
company with his sons which may transform how medicine will be practiced
in the future; and
WHEREAS, Jose S. Sambursky loved the arts and was a supporter of both
the symphony and the opera; he was a true renaissance man and loved
learning and sharing his knowledge with those around him; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his father, Isaac Sambursky, and his mother,
Dora Sambursky, Dr. Jose S. Sambursky is survived by his beloved wife of
51 years, Joyce Werner Sambursky; his children, Daniel and his wife,
Malvinia Sambursky, Ronald Sambursky and Linda Hlopko, Robert and Victo-
ria Sambursky and Paulo Mordehachvili; five grandchildren, Isaac, Aaron,
Rachel, Geoffrey and Lauren; one brother, Jayme P. (Sara) Sambursky; a
niece, Claudia (Marceo) Blak; and a nephew Flavio Sambursky; as well as
his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ross and Leane Dicker, and their
three children Robert, Meredith, and Matt Dicker; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Jose S. Sambursky, MD leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Jose S. Sambursky, MD, distinguished citizen and
devoted member of his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Jose S. Sambursky, MD.