Date of Birth:
Sunday, October 3, 1926
Date of Death:
Monday, June 24, 2019
Age:
92 years old

Mario Lucchinetti, M.D.

Dr. Mario Lucchinetti passed away peacefully on June 24 at his home in Rochester, MN surrounded by his wife, sister, daughters, and caregivers.

He is survived by his wife, Marianne Lucchinetti; daughters, Silvia Lucchinetti (Robert Kussy), Claudia Lucchinetti Wiepert (Mat Wiepert), and Adriana Lucchinetti McCarthy (Glenn McCarthy); sisters, Celina Lopriore and Anna Manfredi; and grandchildren, Christina McCarthy, Joseph McCarthy, Daniela Wiepert, and Liana Wiepert. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lucia Ganna and Giuseppe Lucchinetti; and son, Marco Lucio Lucchinetti (Rasa Adams), who died the same day and hour, three years prior.

Mario Lucchinetti was born October 3,1926 in Rome, Italy, completing Italian high school in Sofia, Bulgaria before returning to Italy. Through a rigorous national competition, he was accepted to the prestigious Collegio Borromeo, at the University of Pavia, Italy, whose academic mission is to create an institution to accommodate promising students experiencing economic hardship. He graduated with the highest honors (Con Lode) in 1952 after completing his medical degree, followed by anesthesiology fellowship at University of Padua, Italy.

In 1953, on a blind date in Copenhagen, he met his soul mate and life long partner, Marianne Berthoty. After a four year courtship and many adventures on his Vespa, they married in Rome on September 18, 1957. In pursuit of career opportunities, they endured a rocky transatlantic voyage on the Constitution, arriving at New York Harbor, February 17,1958. Mario worked at Columbus Hospital in Chicago, then completed four years of General Surgery residency at Illinois Central Hospital, before pursuing an Otolaryngology residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He established a private practice with his partner, Dr. Elio Fornatto, at the Elmhurst Clinic, with a joint appointment at Loyola University. He was a skilled surgeon with expertise in facial reconstruction and ear microsurgery, and a generous and compassionate physician, adored by his patients and colleagues alike.

A brilliant Renaissance man with an encyclopedic knowledge, photographic memory, and magnetic personality, he was known for his legendary history lessons and stories. Fluent in Italian, Bulgarian and English, Mario was a perpetual learner and gifted teacher, with an inquisitive mind and infinite thirst for knowledge, avid reader of historical books, passionate about European History, wartime strategy, classical music, opera, and the arts. He often quoted Caesar in Latin (even in his last days).

A lover of cats and crazy hats, Mario enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, fishing, flying his kite, walking in the woods, camping, and sailing his boat, “The Gattona.” Despite his busy schedule, he always made time for family with nightly sit down dinners and Sunday family days where visits to museums and Greek Town restaurants were a staple. He inspired his children to aim high, tackle challenges and strive for excellence, instilling upon them the importance of education, responsibility, and loyalty to friends and family.

Mario created lifelong friendships and welcomed all into his home. Many of his children’s friends commented on the profound impact he had on their own lives. The last five years of his life he was cared for in his home by a team of remarkable caregivers.

A tribute donation in his name may be given to Doctors without Borders (donate.doctorswithoutborders.org).

The funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 29th in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Rev. Donald Schmitz officiating. Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m. (1119 11 ½ Street SE). Following the interment at Oakwood Cemetery, a light lunch will be served at the home of Claudia Lucchinetti, 75 River Bluff PL NW 55901.