Marie Despina Likas, MD, MD obituary

Mary Despina Likas, MD, a pioneer within the Rhode Island medical group, died on January 24, 2023 on the age of 94. She was the beloved spouse of the late Harold W. Picozzi. They loved a stupendous view of Narragansett Bay, and have been longtime residents of the Narragansett Terrace neighborhood of Bullocks Level in East Windfall. Dr. Mary, as she was fondly referred to as by all who knew her, and Harold have been married for 31 years.

Of proud Greek American descent in Worcester, MA, Dr. Mary was the daughter of the late Spyridon Peter Likas and Mersini S. (Manolio) Likas and sister of the late Theodore B. Likas. She was survived by quite a few nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

Dr. Marie has obtained dozens of recognitions and honors spanning greater than 60 years of her profession, and has been a pioneer for ladies practising drugs with excellent educational, skilled, civic, and philanthropic achievements. An otolaryngologist specializing in head and neck surgical procedure, she was the primary lady to go the Division of Otolaryngology at a Rhode Island hospital, as Chief Surgeon from 1983 till she retired in 1996. She was additionally the primary lady to carry the place of Scientific Professor of Otolaryngology at Brown College College of Drugs. Dr. Mary was the primary lady on the East Coast to grow to be a Fellow of the Trilogical Society, probably the most prestigious society in her specialty. In 1980, she was chosen as the primary lady elected president of the New England Society of Otolaryngology. In 1992, Dr. Marie was named Doctor of the 12 months in Rhode Island, and obtained the President’s Certificates from the Triological Society in 1993. The honors continued by way of 1996, the yr of her retirement, by the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Basis and the American Society For illnesses of the bronchi and esophagus.

Dr. Marie’s educational credentials included a Bachelor of Arts diploma from Clark College, Worcester, Massachusetts in 1949, the place she was the one lady in her class finding out pre-med. She obtained a graduate diploma from Boston College and an M.D. with honors from the College of Athens College of Drugs, and accomplished her residency at three places – Memorial Hospital in Worcester, Rhode Island Hospital in Windfall, and on the College of Pennsylvania College of Drugs in Otolaryngology and Neck Surgical procedure. Dr. Mary obtained her Grasp of Science diploma from Brown College and, in her later years, was Scientific Professor Emeritus of Surgical procedure at Brown College College of Drugs.

Her profession has included non-public observe with privileges at Rhode Island Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Veterans Administration Hospital, and Miriam Hospital. She was previous president of the Windfall Medical Society and recipient of the Windfall Medical Society Distinguished Service Award.

In 1997, Dr. Marie and Harold based the Dr. Marie Despina Likas MDDSc Centre. He holds a chair in biology at Clark College. In the identical yr, Dr. Marie was awarded an honorary doctorate (Physician of Science) diploma from Clark College which acknowledged her spectacular profession. In 2007, she created the Mary De Lecas Fund for the Development of Girls in Drugs at Brown College College of Drugs. Recognized for saying “it is an angle with gratitude,” Dr. Mary believed in giving again and supported many philanthropic endeavors all through her life.

Whereas her educational {and professional} credentials marked the general public facet of Dr. Mary’s life, she additionally lived in a wonderful parallel universe rooted in her Greek heritage, perception in God, and Jap Orthodox religion. With a ardour for artwork, music, and philanthropy, Dr. Marie has been an lively member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Cranston, Rhode Island, the place she sings within the church choir, serves as a member of the Philoptochos of the Good Samaritan Women and recurrently attends Divine Mass companies, particular lectures, applications, and Bible research courses. . Her religion in God was so nice, that she salvaged a set of icons from the parish’s unique location on Pine Road in Windfall and displayed the historic icons in her house together with different art work she had collected through the years.

In recognition of her service to the Church of the Annunciation, Dr. Mary is the recipient of the 2009 Boston Metropolis Award.

Dr. Marie was the primary beneficiary of the Annunciation Parish Endowment Fund, established in her honor because the “Dr. Marie Despina Likas Endowment Fund”, guaranteeing that church companies will proceed for generations. At a gathering in her honor for her beneficiant donations, Dr. Mary said: “I’m doing this for the younger folks of our parish, in order that they might perpetuate the religion and traditions of our church.”

Particular appreciation is given to caregiver and companion Judy Antonelli, a “good and constant maid” whose devotion to Dr. Mary was boundless to the top. Above all, our deepest gratitude goes to Dr. Mary’s pricey pal and fellow Clark College alumnus, Thomas M. Dolan, Esquire.

Dr. Mary Lukass lived life to the fullest with love in her coronary heart, deep humility, kindness and appreciation not just for what she was in a position to obtain but additionally for the items made to her by way of her belief in God. Dr. Mary formulated her life primarily based on her poetic creativity: “Life is a track. Love is music. A symphony of religion, and will God ship us collectively.”

On behalf of all that you’ve performed for therefore many individuals all through your life, we thanks, Dr. Mary. Might your reminiscence be everlasting.

In lieu of flowers, contributions could also be made in reminiscence of Dr. Mary to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. Mary Despina Licas Endowment Fund, 175 Oaklawn Road, Cranston, RI 02905 or on-line at www.announceri.org.

Associates and kinfolk are invited to pay their respects on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 9:00 AM on the Church of the Annunciation, 175 Oaklawn Road, Cranston, RI, 02920, with a funeral service instantly following at 10:00 AM.

Condolences and reminiscences may be shared at www.WoodlawnRI.com.