Spyros Kitromilis

Spyros D. Kitromilis January 5, 2021 We remember with fondness, my husband, Spyros D. Kitromilis M.D. FACOG and Professor Emeritus - Department OB/GYN of Upstate Medical University Hospital, my children's father, a brother to four surviving siblings and loving grandfather (Papou) to his favorite grandchildren. He died on January 5, 2021 at the age of 86 after battling Parkinson's and Dementia that had developed with age and then complications from Covid-19. Spyros was born in October 1934 in Karavas, Kyrenia District, Cyprus. He graduated from Athens University in Athens, Greece. Spyros was one of the few from his beloved home of Karavas, Cyprus to attend university. He graduated with several friends from Cyprus, all of whom became M.D.'s. It was a joyous time in his life. He enjoyed those lifelong friendships over the years, making sure to visit everyone during each visit to Cyprus. He continued his education, which he always said no one can take from you, in Danbury, CT where he met his future wife, Joan. He finished his internship and completed his education at St. Raphael's Hospital in New Haven, CT for his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, in 1963. After being married in September 1963, and having his first child, Maria, in 1965, the family moved to Syracuse, NY where he was a physician for Syracuse Memorial Hospital (currently Crouse Hospital). He started his private practice in 1968, which brought him great happiness, delivering many babies over the next 48 years. Spyros always enjoyed teaching new physicians his special techniques during surgeries and for breach deliveries, that he had learned in New Haven. It is with thanks to his fully dedicated Nurse Nadine and secretary Donna that he continued his private practice until retirement. He is survived by his wife Joan, with whom he was married for 57 wonderful years; his children, Maria and Demetri, who have innumerable memories of spending summers in his home country of Cyprus with him; and by numerous extended family members and friends who meant the world to him. He always enjoyed entertaining and treasured being with his friends and family in Cyprus, his friends from Syracuse and all of his new friends found in Naples, FL, where he moved after retirement in 2006. Spyros loved his garden in Syracuse which included every possible herb and vegetable along with his lemon trees and favorite fig tree, which he buried every Winter and replanted every Spring. When he became one of the many snowbirds in Naples, he continued to garden where he could. He loved long walks on the beach and enjoyed all the men's groups he belonged to. He was an active member of the International Men's Group, the Retired Physicians of Collier County, the Naples Council of World Affairs, and in Washington DC, The American Hellenic Institute. While a physician in Syracuse, he was a member of the American Medical Association, Onondaga County Medical Society, The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and later the Collier County Medical Society. He loved participating in all the meetings, always happy to contribute his comments. Church was particularly important to him, ever since he was an altar boy as a child. He knew the Liturgy by heart and always chanted with the priests. He was a member of St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church located at 325 Waring Rd., Syracuse, NY 13224 and St. Katherine's Greek Orthodox Church located at 7100 Airport Road North, Naples, FL 34109. Spyros was predeceased by his parents Demetri M. and Maritsa S. Kitromilis of Cyprus, his younger brother Makis, and brother-in-law Elias Eliades, both from Cyprus, and his brother-in-law Elias Georganas, from Greece. He is survived by, besides his wife Joan, his brother-in-law Frank (Sue) Nichols of Spencerport, NY, his daughter Maria (William E. Adams), with their twin children Mikhail and Marilena Kitromilis of Ipswich, MA, and his son Demetri of Naples. Also surviving are his sisters Anastasia Georganas and Charitini (Chris) Lambrou of Athens, Greece; Stavroulla Eliades of Limassol, Cyprus and sister-in-law Androulla Kitromilis of Nicosia, Cyprus along with 13 nieces and nephews, around the world in Cyprus, Greece, Dubai, Upstate NY, Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC. Funeral services will be at St. Katherine's Church located at 7100 Airport Road North, in Naples, FL, with time and date to be determined, due to Covid-19. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery at 940 Comstock Ave. in Syracuse, NY, date also to be determined, because of Covid-19. Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens is handling the funeral arrangements in Naples, FL. Burns Garfield Funeral Home in Syracuse, will handle the burial arrangements. In lieu of flowers; Please consider a donation in memory of Spyros to either Church, or to Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital at 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse, NY 13210, of which he was a founding member.