January 29, 2008

Domenic G. Iezzoni, MD, a pediatrician who oversaw medical research at major pharmaceutical companies for more than 5 decades and volunteered at Valley Hospital providing free care to children, died on January 20, 2008 in Ridgewood, NJ. He was 84.

The cause of death was lymphoma.

Dr. Iezzoni was born in Youngstown, Ohio, but spent much of his childhood in his family’s native Italy before returning to the U.S. He completed his undergraduate degree with honors at the University of Rochester in New York and attended the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating with honors in 1948. He completed an internship in internal medicine at University Hospital in Cleveland, a residency in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, and clinical research fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. Dr. Iezzoni served honorably as a physician in the U.S. Army, caring for soldiers and their families stationed in France.

Dr. Iezzoni began his pharmaceutical industry career at Pfizer in New York City in 1956 and moved to DuPont Corporation in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1964. In 1973, Dr. Iezzoni joined Schering-Plough in Kenilworth, NJ, where he worked as Medical Director and after 1995 as consulting Medical Director until 7 months before his death. During much of his tenure he oversaw Global Medical Affairs and Drug Safety. Given his long service in the pharmaceutical industry, many of his Schering-Plough colleagues saw him as “brilliant” and as a legend, continuing to involve him in U.S. and international projects well after his official retirement.

Starting in 1982, Dr. Iezzoni volunteered weekly at Valley Hospital’s pediatric clinic, rarely missing a session during his 11 years of service. His efforts helped the clinic grow from 700 to over 1,500 annual visits. At his retirement in 1993, Valley Hospital’s Board of Trustees thanked Dr. Iezzoni for his dedication, saying he shared “his skills and expertise with the community.”

In 1987 Dr. Iezzoni, his wife, daughter Amy, and son-in-law Charles Edson founded Bel Lago Winery on the Leelanau Peninsula. In the tradition of his grandfather, who was a wine merchant in Italy and reminiscent of days spent with his father making wine, Dr. Iezzoni helped plant the Bel Lago vineyards, establish the winery, and blend the wines. Dr. Iezzoni visited Leelanau County often. He and his wife Ruth supported farmland preservation and are sustaining members of the Leelanau Conservancy.

Over the last 5 years, Dr. Iezzoni volunteered as scientific advisor to the Michigan cherry industry to help them plan research programs evaluating potential health benefits of tart cherries. In collaboration with the University of Michigan Alternative Medicine Unit, Dr. Iezzoni guided development of studies that will test the effects of compounds contained in tart cherries on heart disease. Days before his death, the Cherry Marketing Institute Board gave Dr. Iezzoni a Certificate of Appreciation for his assistance with its research program.

Dr. Iezzoni is survived by wife Ruth Iezzoni of Ridgewood; daughter Lisa Iezzoni of Newton, MA; daughter Amy Iezzoni and granddaughter Lena Edson of Okemos Michigan; daughter Lynette Iezzoni of Oslo, Norway; and daughter Julia Iezzoni of Charlottesville, VA.

Donations in Dr. Iezzoni’s name may be made to The Leelanau Conservancy, 105 North First Street, P.O. Box 1007, Leland, MI 49654. Phone: 231-256-9665.