Punnoose Pachikara

Dr. Punnoose Pachikara, 80, passed away on January 1, 2017 surrounded by his family. He was a caring physician and a general surgeon for 37 years, a devoted husband, father, and brother, who never lost his keen sense of curiosity or his deep love of learning. Punnoose was born in Kerala, India on September 19, 1936 to Annamma Vadakedathu and Abraham Pachikara. He was the second of fourteen children. Punnoose attended Trivandrum Medical College and graduated with two gold medals, one in pediatrics and the other in obstetrics/gynecology. He married his wife, Mary (Rohini) Cownan in 1961 and joined the staff of the Medical College as an instructor of physiology and later, anatomy. In 1962, he left India to pursue post-graduate studies in surgery in Edinburgh, Scotland. He later completed an internship at Augustana Hospital in Chicago and a surgical residency at St. Alexis Hospital in Cleveland. Punnoose loved the field of medicine and was blessed to train with world renowned experts in his field including cardiovascular surgeon Frederick S. Cross, MD and neurosurgeon W. James Gardner MD. With his wife and children, Punnoose moved to Canada where he had a Fellowship in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He had his own private practice: first in Fort Churchill, Manitoba, so far north it is on the polar bear migration path; then for 8 years in the German Mennonite town of Winkler, Manitoba, Canada; and finally, for 28 years, in Murphysboro, IL where he shared an office with his friends and colleagues Andrew Esposito, M.D. and Raimundo Rodriguez, M.D. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (1968) and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (1981). For his own siblings, he was a second father, inspiring their interest in higher education and then supporting it across the years. To family and friends, Punnoose was the consummate host. He was a gifted storyteller, and his tales kept everyone around the dinner table captivated. Punnoose was inspired by nature. He was a passionate bird enthusiast, an avid photographer and enjoyed documenting natural phenomena from autumn transformations to dynamic sunsets. Punnoose is survived by his wife, Mary (Rohini), his children, Cynthia of Ann Arbor, MI, Susan and her husband, Chris Braun, of Chicago, IL, Abe (Santhosh) of Seattle, WA, and his grandsons, Paul and Siddhartha, as well as 7 brothers and 3 sisters. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Daisy Maria Pachikara and Esther Chakkungal, and his brother, Johnny Pachikara.

Punnoose Pachikara

September 19, 1936 - January 1, 2017