Dr. Ericson Angeles Catipon

With deep love and immense gratitude, we celebrate the life of Dr. Ericson Catipon. Eric passed away on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2026, surrounded by his family and friends. As he wrote in his memoir, “The practice of medicine is the art of loving combined with the application of science.” In medicine and beyond, his life was always about love.

The first of seven children of Lauro and Bibiana Catipon, he was born on April 12, 1958, in Cavite, Philippines. As a child, Eric saw a doctor give his dying grandfather relief through medicine, and he resolved to help others when he grew up. But it was a long and arduous road to becoming a doctor. After hard academic work, he was accepted to the top medical school: the University of the Philippines, College of Medicine. Due to the death of his patients from complications beyond his control, over time, Eric felt that he failed them and fell into a moral dilemma and left medicine. By then his family immigrated to the United States amid political upheaval in 1980s.

It was then that he met his wife, Grata, who encouraged and inspired him. The couple turned their attention to a skills training company that focused on helping the underserved. He and Grata had an ecclesiastical engagement the day before immigrating to the US and reuniting with his family. Eric and Grata were married in 1988.

Eric’s father suggested that he consider joining the Navy as a pathway to resume his medical studies. At 30 years old, Eric completed boot camp with honors. Later, while working as a lab technician (microbiologist) in the San Diego Naval Hospital, they had their first child, Tori. Two other children followed, Aeryk and Regina. In 1996, Eric finished his Navy enlistment and received his medical diploma. Throughout, his loving wife Grata worked to support his studies and children. Driven by a lifelong desire to support the underserved, Eric accepted a position as an internist at Harbor Hospital, where he dedicated his skills to caring for the Baltimore community. For over twenty years, Eric served the people of Baltimore with a healing touch and empathetic ear.

On the eve of his planned retirement in January 2024, Eric suffered the first symptoms of cancer, meeting each subsequent test result with characteristic faith and determination. He often remarked on this profound shift, noting he was transitioning "from a doctor to a patient." Yet, his diagnosis only fueled his desire to care for others. After finishing his first round of chemo, he focused his efforts on advocating for his fellow prostate cancer patients and championing increased research and better medical resources.

A man of deep faith, Eric experienced a crowning spiritual moment last year. He and Grata made a sacred pilgrimage to Rome to cross the Holy Doors during the Jubilee Year of Hope. There, in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV personally bestowed a blessing upon Eric after Mass. This profound experience brought him great comfort in his final days. When his journey finally came to a peaceful end, he passed away surrounded by the love of family and friends, who will forever treasure and carry forward his extraordinary legacy of love.

Eric possessed a rare depth of care for others. Though he was not always one to express his feelings aloud, his profound love was felt deeply and given freely to his family, friends, community, and patients.

He is survived by his wife, Grata; his three children, Tori (Andy), Aeryk (Jenna), and Regina; his granddaughter, Lila; his six brothers and sisters, extended family, and friends; the Focolare community and his many patients.

A visitation will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Derwood, MD on Friday, June 12, 2026, from 10 am to 11 am with a Mass of Christian Burial offered at 11 am. Interment will be held in St. Rose of Lima Church Cemetery, Gaithersburg, MD.