Obituary of Julius Pietrzak

Julius Pietrzak, M.D. passed peacefully May 8, 2012 at 7 am of natural causes in his Tucson, AZ home according to his wishes and surrounded by his immediate family and loved ones. Julius was born in Budzislaw Koscielny, Poland, on August 13, 1923 to Dr. Natalia Knopf and Stanislaw Pietrzak, PhD. Because of Natalia’s demanding life as a physician, Julius was taken to Wilno, Poland, to be raised by his aunts and also with his father in Poznan, who was a history professor at the University of Poznan. When the war broke out Julius, a teenager, at first was required to teach German to Polish nationals and then upon refusal of SS service was assigned to indentured farm labor in Germany. Fortunately, he managed to escape from his gentle “indenturer’s,” who looked the other way. It was there that he improved his Italian for his eventual use to escape from Germany. He made the journey on foot across the Dolomites and was captured in Italy by Italian mountain patrols. After two short weeks in Italian prison he was released to internment near Florence as a theology student. There he was under the sponsorship/tutelage of Il Signore La Paglia of the Collegio Boccarini. Amiable and charming, Julius endeared himself to many and was quickly “adopted” by families of stature in country. Upon the liberation of Italy Julius joined the Allied Forces Intelligence Corps and was stationed in Egypt and the Middle East where he met his wife to be, Zofia Strzelec. As a benefit of allied service, he, Zofia and his many of his Polish war colleagues were given scholarships to attend medical school at the University of Bologna. Julius and Zofia married in 1946 in Surrey, England after which time she ceased her studies. Upon his graduation in 1951 he joined Zofia and their five-month old daughter, Eva, in London for a short time prior to immigrating to the USA. Julius began his fruitful medical career as an intern at Illinois Central Hospital in 1952 where his son, Michael, was born. He transitioned to residency in psychiatry at the State Mental Institution in Independence, IA eventually holding the position of chief of the clinical service. However, he decided that he preferred greater clinical challenges and he enrolled in a general practice residency (the first of its kind) in Cedar Rapids, IA He established his own medical practice in 1958 and over the years he became among the most beloved physicians in the community by patients and colleagues alike, practicing in Cedar Rapids until 1985. After then, Julius joined his wife in Tucson and continued to practice medicine until he was 85 years old. The Family Pietrzak was joined in the USA by lifelong friends who came from The University of Bologna and became extended family along with the extended Polish community in Chicago. The Ferrari’s, Montessi’s, Kowaliczko’s, Kosieradzki’s, Tarzynski’s, Herse’s, Schanzer’s, Bronny’s, Termion’s, Matosek’s, Botler’s were a few of his many adopted family members. Julius will be remembered as a healer with the gentlest touch, a strong man who could lift two women over his head, a devoted father and a man of benevolent charm, humor, with many stories to tell in several languages. Julius’ wife was recently deceased in September 2011. He is survived by his children: Eva Stefenson, of Los Angeles and New York City; Dr. Michael Pietrzak of Vail, CO, daughter-in-law, Dr. Lisa Muncy; his sister, Barbara Hulanicka, PhD, of Wroclaw, PL; And, grandchildren: Audrey Stefenson of Washington, DC; Landis and Darek Pietrzak of Vail, CO. And, his beloved friend and caregiver, Ingrid McHugh. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday May 10, 2012 at 5:00 PM in St. Cyril Catholic Church, 4725 E Pima Street, Tucson, Arizona