Ronald N. Lorenzini, M.D., died Jan. 1, 2022.
He was born in 1935 in Oak Park to Adele, nee Ruffo, and Nello Lorenzini.
He attended Roosevelt Grammar School, Fenwick High School and completed his bachelor’s at the University of Notre Dame in 1957. This was followed by his medical degree at Loyola University.
Ron had a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago. He then served three years in the military as chief of OB/GYN at the Vicenza, Italy Army Hospital.
Ronald was the son of a local tavern owner, who was also a former trustee of the Town of Cicero. Ron kept in touch with the members of his grammar school class with a faithful once-a-month breakfast meeting.
In 1958 while attending Notre Dame, he met his future wife, Donna, who was in the nursing program at St. Mary’s College. It was a meeting that culminated with a marriage.
The military service in Vicenza, Italy, was a wonderful time for the family. It was a time for Ronald to find his Italian heritage roots, a time for Donna to embrace the Italian culture, and a time for the children to be raised in the Italian Montessori program and the military school on base. Their son, Thomas Lorenzini, was born in Italy in 1966.
Upon completion of his military service, Ronald entered private practice as a partner with George Moran, M.D., in Downers Grove. He was on the staff of Hinsdale Hospital serving as the head of the OB/GYN department and medical staff president.
He delivered more than 7,000 infants during his 40-year practice. He founded the “Gray Docs,” a retired group of physicians from Hinsdale and La Grange Hospitals that met once a month to bring back memories they treasured.
After he retired, he spent time traveling back to Italy, working at his Lake Michigan get-away home and volunteering at the Community Health Center in Chicago, providing care for the uninsured patients. His favorite quote was “to touch the past you touch a stone, to touch the present you touch a flower, to touch the future you touch a life.”
He owes his strength and perseverance to his wife’s devotion and the love his family. The family lived by the mantra, “Sempre Famiglia.”
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Donna, nee Janda; his children, Ronald Jr. (Colleen), twin daughters Nancy (Keith) Lorenzini, M.D., and Susan (Lawrence deceased, Bill Gros) Dougherty and Thomas (Honor) Lorenzini; his 13 grandchildren, Ronald N. Lorenzini, Caroline Lorenzini, Michael Lorenzini, Isabella Lorenzini, Emily (Jake) Raeker, D.D.S, Brian (Pooja) Kopec, John Kopec, Gabrielle (Daniel) Cook, Thomas Dougherty, Anabella Dougherty, Thomas Lorenzini Jr., Henry Lorenzini and Francesca Lorenzini.
A funeral Mass was held Jan. 5 at St. John of the Cross Church in Western Springs.
Interment was at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made online to Sisters of the Holy Cross, Ministry with Poor Fund, at https://www.cscsisters.org.een held.
Modell Funeral Home in Darien handled the arrangements.
