Armando Cinco Dijamco

A father and a friend. A husband and a humanitarian. A doctor and a deep thinker. A traveler and a storyteller with a giant smile. A gardener and a great, great man. Armando Cinco Dijamco was all this and so much more – respected, admired and beloved by the countless people he touched in his rich, meaningful life. The Sandy Springs, Georgia, resident bid goodbye to us on Earth on Monday morning, January 25, 2021. He was 74.

Armando made us laugh, made us think, and made us love. He will be sorely missed and never forgotten.

Armando grew up in Manila, Philippines, the son of Jesusa (a seamstress, master chef and bright spirit from Cebu) and Dr. Gonzalo Dijamco (a surgeon, Bataan Death March survivor, and caring soul who tended to patients out of his modest home). Armando was the second oldest of seven siblings – often inquisitive, joking, leading the charge, and taking care of everyone, like how he'd rent out his comic books to help his family. He had a big presence when entering any room and dreamed big from an early age, striving for excellence in school (finishing as the salutatorian of his high school class), his community and life. He even had a brief but no doubt glorious, and amusing, stint in 1962 as Manila’s “Boy Mayor.”

Three years later, Armando graduated magna cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas with a Bachelor of Science degree. Early on, Armando had committed to making the world better one patient at a time, as a physician. In medical school, as with everything, he strived to be the best at it – and the recognitions followed. Among them: the Tau Mu Sigma Phi fraternity’s Neophyte of the year, President of his Medical Student Council, Rector’s Award for Academic Excellence, first place in the Philippine Medical Boards. He received his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree as the Valedictorian of the University of Santo Tomas Medical School Class of 1970 (again graduating Magna Cum Laude). In the process of amassing friends and building his legend, Armando never failed to flash his winning smile – occasionally accompanied by a prime practical joke.

Yet Armando did more than study, serve and play at UST. He also met the love of his life there, a fellow student named Alice Ignacio Lachenal. They would become life partners for five decades, together creating what is Armando’s greatest of many legacies -- their wonderful family. Alice joined Armando in America, where he’d begun an internship at Sinai Hospital in (the blue crab haven of) Baltimore. They married in 1972.

Together, the couple moved to chilly northern Ohio – a far cry from the tropical Philippines, but a cozy home nonetheless for their growing family. Coping with snow was not one of Armando’s favorite things to do. Becoming an even better doctor was. He trained at the Cleveland Clinic, becoming Board Certified in Internal Medicine in 1975. He spent the next two years there completing his Fellowship in Hypertension & Nephrology, becoming Board Certified in Nephrology in 1976.

Then came one final move to Atlanta. It was 8,700 miles from Manila, but it quickly became home. Armando launched a solo Nephrology practice, before transitioning to Atlanta Nephrology Associates, as well as Medical Director of the Sandy Springs Dialysis Center. He was an attending physician at Northside Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital (now Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital), where his wife Alice also practiced as an Anesthesiologist. Armando at various times chaired St Joseph’s Department of Medicine, Critical Care Committee, and Medical Staff Information Systems Advisory Committee, as well serving as Medical Education Coordinator, and the Intensive Care Unit’s Medical Care Coordinator.

Armando gave his heart, soul and brilliant mind to his patients. By sharing his skill, wisdom and time, he saved lives and forged powerful relationships. Armando never backed from a challenge, whether it was a complicated case or an ethical dilemma. Many a dinnertime conversation revolved around what would you do in such-and-such a situation; Armando couldn’t hide his delight in seeing the wheels’ churning in his kids’ heads as they searched for the “right” answer.

And, with a boundless thirst for knowledge, he never stopped learning or teaching. Armando relished giving lectures to fellow practitioners on kidney disease, dialysis, hypertension and much more.

In 2012, though, he decided to retire from active medical practice. Armando loved being a doctor, of course. But he was much more than that.

Throughout his life, you’d find him caring for his countless plants in his expansive, terraced garden. He placed angels throughout, as well as picturesque nooks and crannies to enjoy nature. He loved bird watching, and always made sure the hummingbird feeder was full & clean. All his goldfish in outdoor heated tanks knew him even from a distance. He tremendously enjoyed music, indeed, another one of his passions. If there was a piano in a room, chances are good

that you’d find Armando on it playing a tune, even in the middle of a great big hotel lobby. When there weren’t other people around, he’d park in front of the TV for music talent shows and to hear his favorite singers. He also enjoyed traveling -- soaking up new cultures, savoring cuisines and strengthening bonds with friends, new and old. And he savored simple pleasures of all types, from the latest tech gadget to a not-for-long tub of Jamoca Almond Fudge ice cream.

Still, for all the places he went, Armando’s favorite place to be was surrounded by those he loved. He treasured his many friends, sharing jokes and stories with him at every opportunity, whether they’d come for one of his famous garden parties or were half a world away. And he would do absolutely anything – anything – for his family, especially his son and three daughters.

Armando frequently could be found over the stove, cooking up yet another mammoth meal for anyone in the vicinity – except for regular, welcomed interruptions from the many people who sought out his guidance and thoughts.

In time, Armando would be blessed to become Lolo to his 13 grandchildren. He cherished that title most of all. A close second may have been “Tickle Monster,” from all the times he’d chase the little ones hoping to hear them giggle. (They’d return the favor tenfold – especially when he’d nod off on a couch.) Lolo could get away with teasing and tricking that no one else can, always for a laugh and a smile.

Armando retired because he wanted to spend more time with those kids and his friends. Yet, ever tireless, he didn’t stop making a difference.

His last venture involved nanotechnology to cure cancer, a project that progressed significantly, thanks to his tireless efforts (as well as experts and partners in the United States and the Philippines). It was very much Armando to see a daunting task like cancer and a complex topic like nanotechnology, then decide to wholeheartedly embrace it. He never stopped learning or serving, insisting adamantly that any possible cure be offered as cheaply and efficiently to as many people as possible.

Armando is survived by his wife, Alice, of Sandy Springs; son Armand “Jojo” Dijamco of San Francisco, California; daughter Arlene Botelho of Roswell, Georgia; daughter Angeline DeLaurentis of Burlingame, California; daughter Anne McGinty of Sebastopol, California; grandchildren Miriam, Sarah, Abby, Izzy, Nelly, Gabby, Cici, Sofia, Emma, Jack, Carter, Ethan and Lucia; siblings Cesar Dijamco, Cynthia Hewitt, Raul Dijamco, Cristino Dijamco, the late Zenaida Lanham, and Gracita Dijamco who passed during infancy; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.

His funeral services will be held on Monday, February 1, 2021. Guests may attend in person with safety precautions or virtually (see Events tab for details). To allow as many friends and family members to still attend during these difficult times, all funeral events will be livestreamed. For anyone who decides to attend virtually instead of in person, please do not worry. In these times, everyone understands. We are thankful to have the technology to allow everyone to still be a part of the memorial services.

Until the day of his passing, Armando was passionate about nanotechnology. On July 4, 2015 he and Dr. Renato Mendoza Reyes co-founded the Nanotechnology Research Foundation (NTRF), a non-profit entity in the Philippines.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to NTRF in memory of Dr. Armando Dijamco via USTMAAA Foundation pass through fund online through our USTMAAA website:

https://ustmaaamerica.wildapr…

Memo: For NTRF in memory of Dr. Armando Dijamco MD

Or by check payable to:

USTMAAA Foundation

Memo: For NTRF in memory of Dr. Armando Dijamco MD

7071 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 333

West Bloomfield, Mi 48322

If you have any questions, you may contact USTMAAAF:

Phone: 248-626-1114 (Stella)

Email: [email protected]