Memorial Tribute Video for Dimitrios Smocovitis

 Dimitrios Smocovitis

SMOCOVITIS, Dimitrios (September 6, 1929-December 17, 2007) Passed away at sunset on December 17th with his family and friends at his side after a courageous battle with cancer. It was a familiar foe: for 28 years he fought it as medical physicist in the Windsor Regional Cancer Center. From 1966, when the field of medical physics was still in its infancy, until his retirement in 1994, he was part of a team of cancer workers applying novel radiation therapies in its treatment. Before then, he was an inspirational gymnasium professor at Neapoli, Greece (1954-1955) and then the Greek community school in El Mansura, Egypt (1955-1962). He taught scores of students to lead lives full of integrity, honesty, and love and to pursue their passions especially in areas of science, medicine, and engineering. His interest in science, especially astronomy and physics, manifested itself early; he had a life-long respect for precision, and a technical virtuosity that lent itself just as readily to the laboratory as to the household.

Born in Grammeni (near Lamia), Greece in 1929, he came from a family of farmers, landowners and railroad engineers who respected education. He obtained his undergraduate degree in physics and astronomy from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in 1952. Between 1952-54 he served as Lieutenant in the Greek Army Corps of Engineers. In 1962 he emigrated to Canada obtaining an MSc degree in 1966 in medical physics from the University of British Columbia under the distinguished physicist Harold F. Batho. He belonged to the Canadian Radiation Protection Association, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, the Canadian Association of Physicists, the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists, the American College of Medical Physics and served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Division of Medical and Biological Physics of the Canadian Association of Physicists.

In 1954, he married the love of his life for 53 years, Alexandra (nee Karabogias); they celebrated 50 years of their life together with friends and relatives in Windsor in August 2004. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Vassiliki Betty of Gainesville, Florida, a brother, Anastasios of Larissa, Greece, and is predeceased by a sister, Ephrosyne, also of Larissa, Greece. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, cousins and four godchildren, in the US, Canada, and Greece.

In Windsor, he was an active member of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, serving as president of the community, treasurer, auditor and council member, as well as belonging to AHEPA. In later years, he participated in the Egyptian-Greek community center in Athens, Greece. After his retirement, he continued his studies in cosmology, science and religion, and the history and philosophy of science. He loved Albert Einstein, whom he came to resemble in later years, but chose instead a quotation from Bertrand Russell for his epitaph: “A good life is one inspired by love but guided by knowledge.” It was a fitting tribute that he passed away at the Metropolitan Campus of Windsor Regional Hospital, where he had been a familiar figure for nearly thirty years, and under the care of an attentive group of physicians, nurses, caregivers, and friends. His family especially thanks Dr. David J. Paterson for thirty years of care. If desired, memorial donations may be made to Windsor and Essex Cancer Centre Foundation. Visiting Thursday 7-9 p.m. Prayers Thursday 7:30 p.m. at Families First Funeral Home and Tribute Centre (519-969-5841) 3260 Dougall Ave. On Friday friends are invited to meet at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church (65 Ellis St. E.) for funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Interment service to follow at Windsor Memorial Gardens. Memories may be shared online at www.FamiliesFirst.ca

Published in the Windsor Star from 12/19/2007 – 12/20/2007.