Michael J. Guarino, M.D., age 67, of Newark, DE passed away with his wife by his side at Christiana Hospital on December 12, 2021.  Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of Clorinda (Fioravanti) and the late Honorable Angelo A. Guarino.

Michael was a parishioner at St. John the Beloved parish.  He thoroughly enjoyed annual trips to the Outer Banks with all of his children and grandchildren.  In addition to his father, Michael was preceded in death by his brother, Julius Guarino and his sister-in-law, Alice Guarino.

Michael is survived by his wife of 45 years, Patricia A. Guarino; his children and their spouses, Andrew and Mona Guarino, Robert Guarino and Irene Su-Guarino, Jeffrey and Nicole Guarino and Suzanne and Daniel Wanninger; his grandchildren, Michael, Alex, Matthew, John, William, Charlie Guarino, and James Su-Guarino and Lucille and Elaine Wanninger; his mother, Clorinda Guarino; his brother, Carl Guarino; his sister-in-law, Rosemary Guarino; his sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Andrew Cichanowsky and many loving nieces and nephews.

Michael was a founding partner of Medical Oncology Hematology Consultants, PA, located at Christiana Care's Helen F. Graham Cancer Center.  It is a practice he began in 1984 along with his partner, Steven Grubbs.

A board-certified medical oncologist, Dr. Guarino's areas of interest included clinical research and bone marrow transplant/cellular therapy.  He specialized in the treatment of lung cancer, melanoma and gastrointestinal malignancies.  However, he tackled any and all types of cancer, especially the tough cases.

The author of numerous scientific and clinical papers, Dr. Guarino's extensive research background included serving as a principal investigator for a number of pharmaceutical and other clinical trials sponsored by Christiana Care's Community Clinical Oncology Program.  This became the National Cancer Institute-funded Clinical Oncology Research Program which plays a critical part in enrolling patients in clinical studies for every major type of cancer.

In 2008, Dr. Guarino's practice was one of only ten community oncology practices in the country to receive honors from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the ASCO Cancer Foundation for efforts to improve care of people with cancer through participation in clinical trials, which was a great passion of his.  He oversaw the next generation sequencing program at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center Research Institute.

Dr. Guarino was a clinical investigator on the National Cancer Institute-sponsored Alliance for Clinical Trials; the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project, a clinical trials cooperative group supported since its inception by the National Cancer Institute; and the Gynecologic Oncology Group, a not-for-profit organization that promotes excellence in the quality and integrity of clinical and basic scientific research in the field of gynecologic malignancies.  He was instrumental in the promotion of molecular diagnostics and molecular testing of cancer patients.

During his distinguished career, Dr. Guarino has received a number of clinical and academic appointments and was the recipient of a variety of academic and clinical achievement honors.  He was beloved by patients for his individualized dedicated attention, concern and care.

A visitation will be held at St. John the Beloved Church, 907 Milltown Road Wilmington, DE 19808 on Wednesday, December 22 from 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:55 AM.  At the request of the family, to enter, masks are mandatory and vaccination cards are required by all, (including children) to show full vaccination status.  A booster is needed if last shot is before June 22.  Everyone must be seated in the available pews behind the family. For those unable to attend, a live webcast of the Mass will be available via St. John the Beloved's website.  Burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either St. John the Beloved Church at the above listed address or to Nemours Children's Hospital 1600 Rockland Road Wilmington, DE 19803.