Born August 19, 1925 in Pleven, Bulgaria to Vasil Nikolayev and Maria Christova (Popova) Dimitrov, Nikolay earned his M.D. degree from the Medical Academy of Bulgaria. Dr. Dimitrov was a professor at the MSU College of Human Medicine beginning in 1975. He was a recipient of the first Jack Breslin Endowed Professorship in Hematology/Oncology at MSU, the culmination of a lifetime of work in cancer research and education. Prior to working at MSU, Dr. Dimitrov was the director of medicine at Saginaw Cooperative Hospital, the director of Immunotherapy Unit of Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital of Philadelphia, and an instructor of medicine at Western Reserve University of Cleveland. He was honored with the Eleanor Roosevelt Research Service Award from the National Cancer Institute in 1981, was designated as the “Honorable Professor” by the Medical College of Xian, People’s Republic of China, and the Michigan Association of Governing Boards’ Distinguished Faculty Award. Dr. Dimitrov was a Professor Emeritus at MSU after his retirement from the University in 2001.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Cristo Dimitrov, and his first wife, Maria Dimitrov.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Margaret “Peggy” Malovrh and his many dear family and friends around the world.
The family would like to extend their thanks to Natalia Conte, a special nurse and friend whose care of Nikolay went above and beyond daily.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 11:00am at St. Andrew Orthodox Church, 1216 Greencrest Ave., East Lansing, Michigan. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to St. Andrew Orthodox Church, 1216 Greencrest Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823 or American Cancer Society, 1775 Abbey Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.greastlansing.com.
