Dr. Julius C. Sozanski

Dr. Julius C. Sozanski, age 93, of Lynn, died on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Dr. Sozanski was born on June 7, 1918 to Polish immigrants Stanley and Mary (Noga) Sozanski. During his childhood the family lived in the thriving Polish communities of Salem and Peabody. While Dr. Sozanski had no siblings, his two cousins were like brothers to him, and their tragic deaths at a young age influenced his decision to become a physician.

Dr. Sozanski graduated from St. Anselm’s College in 1939 and from Loyola University of Chicago School of Medicine in 1942. He later did post-graduate coursework at Harvard Medical School. He proudly served in the US Army Air Corps in the Medical Corps during WWII, and after the war as an Air Force officer until his honorable discharge in 1953.

Dr. Sozanski met Geneva Furtak in 1939, starting a partnership that would last for over 70 years. The pair married in 1947, and had two sons Stanley and Stephen. In 1953 they settled into their multi-family home on Eastern Avenue, which came to house five generations of family and was the center of extended family life for nearly 60 years.

Dr. Sozanski was a Board Certified Ophthalmologist, and he practiced ophthalmology for 57 years. He saw patients at his office next door to the family’s home, and was Chief of Ophthalmology at both Lynn Hospital and Union Hospital. He loved his profession, and continued to read medical journals, attend seminars, and meet with former colleagues until he was in his late eighties. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Mass. Medical Association, the Mass. Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, the North Shore Medical Association, and was an instructor at Lynn Hospital School of Nursing. He received numerous honors and awards for his exemplary work in his field.

Dr. Sozanski was a life-long Roman Catholic, who exemplified what it meant to live a life in service to others, as shown by his dedication to his family, his community, and his patients. He was also a member of the Valladolid Council #70, Knights of Columbus, Lynn.

Dr. Sozanski loved sports, particularly ice hockey. He liked nothing better than to watch family members practice and play hockey, and for a time even built a seasonal rink in the family’s small backyard. He also loved the water, spending many happy vacations in Amesbury, Cape Cod, and Boothbay, and fishing and lobstering locally in the family’s boat, which was named the “SS Gen” in honor of his wife.

Dr. Sozanski is survived by his wife of 64 years Geneva (Furtak) Sozanski, his two sons Dr. Stanley Sozanski and his wife Kathleen of Byfield, and Dr. Stephen Sozanski and his wife Alice of Alna, ME, his sister-in-law Helen McSweeney of Lynn, his four grandchildren Amy (Sozanski) Pironti and her husband John of Rowley, David Sozanski and his wife Lindsay of Lynn, Rebecca (Sozanski) Fuentes and her husband Nyal of Melrose, and Robert Sozanski of Boston, his six great-grandchildren John and Grace Pironti of Rowley, Hayden and Ashton Sozanski of Lynn, and Elena and Marisol Fuentes of Melrose, his nephew Daniel McSweeney, Jr. and his wife Janelle and their children Daniel Patrick and Lilli McSweeney of Lynnfield, and his nephew David McSweeney of South Boston. He was pre-deceased by his brother-in-law Atty. Daniel McSweeney, Sr.

A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday at 10 AM in Holy Family Church, 26 Bessom Street, Lynn. Visiting hours will be held in the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home 157 Maple Street, Lynn on Wednesday from 4-8 PM. Memorial donations to advance Dr. Sozanski’s legacy of commitment to sight programs and services may be made in his name to the Shoe City Lions Club, P. O. Box 8173, Lynn, MA 01904.