Dr. Antonio Quevedo Paraiso

Pace e bene, dear friend!

RICHMOND, Ind. -- Dr. Antonio Quevedo Paraiso, 87 years, of Richmond, Ind., went to heaven on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010, at his home surrounded by his loving family. After bravely enduring Parkinson's disease for more than two decades, he suffered from complications.

He was born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, in the Philippines on June 13, 1923, to Domingo Paraiso and Fidela Quevedo. Antonio, better known as Tony, was the youngest of nine children.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his eight siblings (Nicasio, Miguel, Severina, Claude, Rosal, Flora, Natividad and Alvaro); and his eldest daughter, Suzanne, in 1965.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Virginia Rustia Paraiso, a medical technologist and later a registered pharmacist who expertly managed Dr. Tony's medical practice in Richmond.

His legacy includes four adoring daughters: Sandy (Joe) Schwann, a pediatric dentist in Calgary, Alberta, Marie Antoinette "Toni" (David) Coughlin, a psychiatric nurse in Winchester, Mass., Marie Fidela "Fifi" (Craig Van Etten), a urogynecologist and reconstructive pelvic surgeon in Cleveland, Ohio, and Michelle (Paul Odland), an anesthesiologist in Belvedere, Calif.; and 10 wonderful grandchildren: Valerie, Michela, Kiersten, Keeley, Jordon, Cassandra, Alexandra, Michael, John Paul and Rachel.

Dr. Paraiso graduated from Ilocos Norte High School in 1940, and then later received his Baccalaureate Degree in Liberal Arts from the University of the Philippines in 1944. His education was interrupted by World War II. Dr. Tony suffered a gunshot wound during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines and thankfully recovered after taking refuge in a foxhole for three days.

After this experience, he pursued medicine and graduated from the University of the Philippines (UP) Medical School (1950) in the first class to graduate after World War II.

Dr. Paraiso decided to specialize in Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob-Gyn) and began his internship at Margaret Hague Hospital in Jersey City, N.J., from 1951-52. He completed a four-year residency in Ob-Gyn at Saint Agnes Hospital and Lutheran Hospital (1952-55) in Baltimore, Md., and special training in Gynecologic Pathology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.Afterward, Dr. Tony served as a Fellow for the Agency of International Development at Pawtucket Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, R.I., from 1961-62.

After postgraduate education, Dr. Paraiso practiced Ob-Gyn at Quirino Memorial Hospital in the Philippines for 10 years (1956-66). He was head of Ob-Gyn at Quirino Memorial Hospital from 1964-66. From 1967 until early 1968, he was staff at Mercy Hospital in Hamilton, Ohio. Tony then started his Ob-Gyn practice and became staff at Reid Memorial Hospital in Richmond, Ind., in February 1968, and retired in 1990. He delivered over 7,000 babies during his career and was well-known for his clinical skills and bedside manner, particularly by singing and reciting poetry to his patients in various languages (fluent in seven). He was dubbed the "Singing Doctor" in the Dayton Daily News. Tony was a member of the American Medical Association, the Indiana State Medical Association, the Indiana Philippine Medical Association and the UP Medical Association of Student Alumni (UPMASA).


The Paraiso family immigrated to the United States in 1966, living in Pawtucket, R.I., and Hamilton, Ohio, prior to settling in Richmond, where Tony and Virginia have resided from 1968 forward. Dr. and Mrs. Paraiso have served as devout members of St. Mary Catholic Church for 42 years. His activities in retirement included international travel, playing piano, singing, and reciting and writing poetry. In 1994, Dr. Paraiso was inducted into the International Society of Poets. He continued to contribute to his friends, family and community with poems and articles published in the Richmond Palladium-Item newspaper.

Visitation for Antonio Q. Paraiso will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road W., Richmond. Liturgy of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 710 N. A St., Richmond, with Father Todd Riebe officiating. Entombment will be in Earlham Memorial Mausoleum.

Memorial contributions may be made to Seton Catholic High School, 240 S. Sixth St., Richmond, IN 47374; Reid Hospital Foundation, 1100 Reid Parkway, Richmond, IN 47374; or a charity of choice.