Obituary of F. Guillermo Patino

Dr. F. Guillermo Patiño passed away peacefully at home in Tucson, AZ surrounded by his family on the evening of September 6, 2015 after a long and courageous battle with emphysema. His family was blessed to celebrate his 83rd birthday and 52nd wedding anniversary this year. Guillermo was born on April 17, 1932 in La Capilla de Tenza en Boyacá, Colombia, South America. He attended medical school at the Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia which included a required 1 year service in a rural area clinic and his internship before graduating in 1959. He then worked in private practice until he moved to the United States. In 1961 he moved to Chicago, IL and began working at Mother Cabrini Hospital in order to learn the English language. He later worked at Belmont Community Hospital, and then in 1963 he returned to Ibague to marry the love of his life A. Lucia González on July 20, 1963. They both returned back to Chicago where he completed his American internship at the Illinois Masonic Hospital. In 1967 he moved to Tucson AZ with his wife, daughter and new born son, where he did his surgical residency in the rotating program at St. Mary's Hospital, Tucson Medical Center and also Kino Hospital. In 1970 he again moved his family which now included 3 children to Superior, AZ where he worked as a surgeon at Magma Hospital until 1981. Guillermo, Lucia, and his 4 children moved to Ajo, AZ where he began the final leg of his career. Guillermo worked for Phelps Dodge at the New Cornelia Hospital and then at the clinic once the mine shut down. During the last few years before his retirement, he was also required to travel often to Gila Bend to provide medical care there at the clinic owned by Phelps Dodge. Guillermo retired in 1996 and moved to Tucson, AZ in 1997 with his wife until the day of his death. Guillermo was preceded in death by his parents Raphael and Paulina Patiño, and his brother Humberto Patiño. He is survived by his sister Olga (FL); brother Rafael "Rafico" (CA); wife Lucia (Tucson, AZ); daughter Olga and husband Manuel Escarcega (Gilbert, AZ); son Carlos and Amy Allread (Tucson, AZ), son Pedro and wife Marissa (Tucson, AZ), daughter Bertha and husband Jaime Valenzuela (Tucson, AZ) and son-in-law Paul Vasquez Jr (Ajo, AZ). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Amanda Vasquez (25); LCpl (USMC) Enrique Vasquez (23) and wife Ariana; Michael Escarcega (20) and wife Dennise; Kelsey Berryman (17); Chris Berryman (14); Joshua Valenzuela (14); Zechariah Valenzuela (10); and great grandchildren Isabella (13 months); and Sofia Escarcega (due date Oct 2015). Services are scheduled as follows on Sept 17, 2015: 09:30 am - Rosary at St. Francis de Sales (1375 S. Camino Seco, Tucson, AZ 85710) 10:00 am - Mass at St. Francis de Sales 11:00 am - Disposition of Ashes at Holy Hope Cemetery (3535 N. Oracle Rd. Tucson, AZ 85705) 1:00 pm - Luncheon at St. Francis de Sales In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations in honor of Guillermo be made to St. Francis de Sales Parish (1375 S. Camino Seco, Tucson AZ 85710; phone 520-885-5908) or to Santa Cruz Catholic Church (1220 S. 6th Ave. Tucson, AZ 85713; phone 520-623-3833). Thank you.