YOUNGSTOWN - Felix A Pesa, M.D., 81, died April 29, 2017, at Mercy Health Center after an extended illness. Dr. Pesa was born in Youngstown on June 27, 1935, the son of the late Sylvia and Arthur Pesa. He was a graduate of The Rayen School, class of 1953. He received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, and his medical degree from The Ohio State University in 1962. His internship was completed at St. Elizabeth Health Center, followed by a general surgery residency at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. He served as LCDR U.S. Navy and as chief of Surgery, Third Medical Battalion, Third Marine Division, Republic of Vietnam, completing his tour of duty in 1969. He received the Navy Commendation Medal for his service. Following his service experience, Dr. Pesa accepted a position as a vascular fellow at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, under the tutelage of Dr. Michael DeBakey. He returned to Youngstown in 1970, to begin his longstanding practice as a vascular surgeon. He had an enduring passion for new knowledge and this quest piloted the advancement of vascular surgery in the Youngstown area. He is credited for pioneering the endovascular surgery program at Mercy Health Center St. Elizabeth. His legacy begins with the thousands of patients who thrived following his care. He was an international guest speaker on his experiences with these innovative techniques throughout the countries of Australia, China, Japan and South Africa. In the early 1980s, he chose to augment his extensive training at Neufeld Department of Surgery, Oxford in England and then at Fundacion Puegvert in Barcelona, Spain. Following his retirement from surgery, Dr. Pesa was the driving force behind the establishment of the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Departments at St. Elizabeth Health Center and St. Joseph Health Center in Warren. The Wound Care Center at St. Elizabeth was renamed the Felix A. Pesa M.D. Wound Care Center in 2015, because of his many years of service to patients with chronic wounds. He accepted this dedication with the same quiet humility that was the very core of his being. Dr. Pesa held academic positions as assistant professor of Surgery at Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine and clinical professor of Surgery at College of Osteopathic Medicine at Ohio University in Athens. A fervent advocate of education, he was honored to be a contributor to the surgical training of residents and proudly displayed his Teacher of the Year Award. He was a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery and a fellow of The American College of Surgeons. His professional appointments over the years include director of Surgical Education, director of Surgical Residency, director of Vascular Service, Medical director of Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine. His strong interest in medical ethics led him to a Master of Arts in Bioethics at Case Western Reserve University College of Medicine in 1998. He was a strong voice on the Ethics Committee at Mercy Health. He was recognized as Man of the Year by the American Heart Association in 2009. In addition to his parents, Dr. Pesa was preceded in death by his brother, Michael; and newborn daughter, Bernadette. His death is an indescribable loss to his beloved, Cathy, with whom he created a lifetime of cherished memories. Also surviving are sons Arthur, Michael (Lori), Felix, David (Ivy), and Thomas (Ann Marie). He leaves behind loved ones, Daniel Mastropietro (Marianne), Dr. Neil (Sally) Mastropietro, Pat (Charlie) Riggie, Pam Wood (Scott) and Carla (John) Berick. He will be forever missed by his nine grandchildren, nieces, great-nieces, and nephews. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 3, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home, 4442 South Ave. in Boardman. A procession will leave the funeral home on Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., officiated by the Very Rev. Monsignor Michael Cariglio. Interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery, with military funeral honors. Memorial contributions can be made to the Dorothy Day House, 620 Belmont Avenue, Youngstown 44502, or to the Rich Center for Autism, 1 University Plaza, Youngstown 44555. Family and friends may visit www.rossifunerals.com to send their heartfelt condolences.

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