Policarpo De Jesus' Obituary
Dr. Policarpo De Jesus, 92, passed away peacefully on July 18th in his home in Land O’ Lakes, Florida after his long battle with amyloid cardiomyopathy.
Bong, as he is known to family and close friends, graduated with honors from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) College of Medicine in Manila Philippines. He trained in ophthalmology in Toronto Canada under the Colombo Plan, and then became Chief of Eye Ear Nose and Throat at the Baguio General Hospital in Baguio City, Philippines, where he met his first wife, Delia Garcia. He was Chief of Hospital and President of the Baguio Mountain Medical Society. He served the Baguio and La Union community, giving sight back to many with cataracts and wonderful smiles to children affected by cleft lips and palates.
In 1972, he immigrated to the U.S., working initially as an emergency room physician in Lincoln Nebraska, and then left for the warmer climate of Nashville Tennessee as one of five staff physicians at Metropolitan Bordeaux Hospital. He eventually became its Medical Director and retired at 65 in 1994. Together with his second wife, Virginia Morales, they were active members of the Filipino community in Nashville-Middle Tennessee area.
He remained active and loved to travel, globally and locally, driving visiting friends and family all across the USA. He kept busy with woodworking, building Lutyens benches which grace many outdoor gardens in Nashville and Florida. His delicate surgeon hands created many birdhouses and sewed many quilts.
As the family patriarch, he was known to be the peacemaker. He was a meek, gentle-natured and reserved. He was hardworking and talented. Bong managed his illness with strength, and wanted to spend as much time with his loved ones as possible. He fought valiantly through the end with his able nurse, Rachel B., to whom the family is eternally grateful.
Bong is survived by his first wife Delia Garcia, and predeceased by his second wife, Virginia Morales. Bong is survived by his eight children: Reynaldo, married to Rosario Nomorosa; Dr. Maritess, married to Dr. Mario Uichanco; Rodrigo, married to Grace Sistoso; Army SSgt. Ramon; Marissa; Dr. Maridith, married to Dr. Joel Hardin; Amyliza, married to Andy Larkin; and Dr. Monaliza, married to Armen Safarian. He leaves behind his 13 grandchildren: Raymond (PJ) DeJesus; Theodora (Tammy) Uichanco; Dr. Michelle Uichanco, married to Patrick Canezo; Christopher DeJesus; Camille Simon, married to Paul Auman; Dr. Lauren (Chichi) Uichanco, married to Cody Buczkowski; Dr. Timothy DeJesus; Rachel DeJesus; Teresa (Annie) Uichanco; David Safarian; Nikolas Safarian; Maksim Safarian; and Noah Larkin; and greatgrandchildren Dominic Adrian (Nico) Canezo, and Emery Auman.
A celebration of Bong’s life is planned for August 6, 2022 at 11:30 am at the Trinity Memorial Gardens in Trinity, FL.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that people make a donation to Operation Eyesight or your favorite charity in Bong’s memory.
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