Dr. Jose Pepe aka Lolo Aquino Aquino Sr.

Dr. Jose Aquino, M.D. died at home July 20, 2010. He was born March 19, 1927 in Mangaldan, Philippines. He was one of eight children. He was raised in a rural area & during the Japanese occupation WW2 he was active in guerrilla warfare.

Dr. Aquino aspired to higher education. He joined the Filipino ROTC during college. He graduated from University Santo Tomas medical school and was accepted to do post graduate training in the United States.

Jose meet his wife Lydia Saguisag in Quezon City where he fell in love with her and her pianistic abilities. They married June 1953 and he came to New Jersey.

Lydia joined him and he completed residencies in EENT, head and neck surgery and radiation oncology. Together they traveled to Philadelphia, Montreal and Toronto. After completing his training at the Princess Margaret in Toronto and the Royal Victoria in Montreal they moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia where he took a position at the Victoria General Hospital and eventually became assistant professor of medicine at Dalhousie University. In addition to practicing radiation oncology and treating thousands of cancer patients, Dr. Aquino was a pioneer in Nuclear Medicine. He taught many undergraduate medical students as well as many resident physicians. He was Director of Nuclear Medicine at the Halifax Infirmary. Dr. Aquino 's dedication and love of medicine influenced the career choices of his 4 children.

Dr. Aquino was very active in the Canadian Cancer Society and he served as President as well as a member on it's local board for many years. He was instrumental in the realization of "The Lodge That Gives" (located on South Street) which serves as a local home for relatives of cancer patients who are undergoing treatment. He also was involved in the inception of the Terry Fox Run. Dr. Aquino retired in 1996 but remained involved and became a member of the retired physician section of Doctors Nova Scotia. He was very proud to serve as a medical missionary with his son in law Dr. Hugh Parsons and his granddaughter Lillian Parsons in the Philippines in 2007.

He and Lydia enjoyed traveling. They visited many places including Mexico, South America, continental USA , Hawaii , Alaska, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Europe, the British Isles, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Russia and Asia. They especially enjoyed visiting their children and grandchildren in Texas, Ottawa & Vancouver.

Dr. Aquino was an avid hockey fan, while visiting yearly in, Texas enjoyed seeing and cheering for the Dallas Stars but also for the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks. He was even able to attend many Stanley Cup playoff games.

With Lydia he enjoyed many years of classical music and attended the Nova Scotia Symphony concerts for years. They also attended the Cliburn International piano competition and galas in 2009.

Dr. Aquino is survived by his wife of 57 years Lydia, 4 children, 8 grandchildren and siblings;

Dr. Maria Aquino Fawcett and her husband Dr. Daniel Fawcett of Colleyvile, Texas, Mrs. Geralynn Hirsch and her husband Dr. David Hirsch of Halifax, Dr Christina Aquino Parsons and her husband Dr. Hugh Parsons, of Vancouver, Dr. Jose Aquino Jr. and his wife Dr. Marjorie Robb Aquino of Ottawa.

Their grandchildren ; Joseph Fawcett, Elizabeth and Alexandra Hirsch, Christian, Lillian and Adam Parsons, Michael and Christopher Aquino.

His sister is Dr. Lilia Aquino of Inverness County and brother Rev. Msgr. Oscar Aquino of St. Lucy's Parish, New York and sister Mrs. Rebecca Domagas and brother Arnorfo Aquino.

Donations in his honor may be made to the Nova Scotia branch of the Canadian Cancer Society www.cancer.ca and www.parkinsonmaritimes.ca,

Visitation will be at Cruikshank's Funeral Home 6-8 pm on Thursday July 22

Funeral Mass will be 10 am on Friday July 23 at Canadian Martyrs Church

Graveside service for family members only

Condolences may be expressed at www.cruikshankfuneralhome.com

Dr. Aquino's family would like to thank his family doctor Dr Graeme Bethune, Dr Glubitz & the staff of the QE 2 as well as the doctors and staff of the Restorative Care unit in the Geriatric Facility in particular nurse practitioner Sandra Duke.They provided him kind, compassionate care.