Orlando Health cardiologist dies in accident

An Orlando Health cardiologist was killed in Maitland Dec. 17 when he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle. 

Dr. Robert Dalton Jr., 56, of Maitland, was hit by a car while riding his bicycle early Monday morning on Orlando Avenue near Versailles Drive, according to the Maitland Police Department. According to Dalton’s obituary, he was on his way to work when he died.

“We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Dr. Robert Dalton and extend our deepest sympathies to his wife and children as they face this difficult time,” Orlando Health spokesman Desmond Jordon said in a statement. “Patients, team members and colleagues were all touched by Dr. Dalton’s professionalism, compassion and kindness. Dr. Dalton was an exceptional physician leader throughout our organization and he will be greatly missed and remembered.”

Dalton, born Nov. 16, 1962, in Camden, New Jersey, earned his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Oklahoma City and completed an internal medicine residency at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He completed a cardiology fellowship at Tampa General Hospital and an interventional cardiology fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center. 

He moved in 1999 to Orlando, where he began working in private practice with the Orlando Heart Center. He later joined Orlando Health Heart Institute Cardiology Group.

Despite the crash, Maitland Deputy Chief Dawn D’Ambrosio said pedestrian accidents are uncommon in Maitland. 

Dalton is survived by his wife of 33 years, Stacy Tilton Dalton; their two sons, Robert (“Trey”) and Tyler Dalton; his parents, Robert Paul Dalton Sr. and Nancy Catharine Dalton; his sisters, Susan Carney and Colleen Sarp; and his brother-in-law Dennis Sarp. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Patricia Andrews; and his brother-in-law, Michael Tilton. 

A visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory, 9001 Orlando Ave., Maitland. A Celebration of Life will be at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Winter Park, 125 N. Interlachen Ave., Winter Park. In lieu of flowers, the Dalton family asks donations to be gifted to any of the following organizations: the American Heart Association, heart.org; the Voice Health Institute, joe-digregorio-63pe.squarespace.com; or Orlando Health Foundation, orlandohealthfoundation.com.