Dr. Wilfrido Castillo Feliciano

Dr. Wilfrido Feliciano (Dido), a well-respected reconstructive surgeon and true renaissance man, left us peacefully in the early morning of December 6 surrounded by music and his loving family. Professionally, he was incredibly hard-working, loyal, resilient, principled, and was a leader in his various communities. Through sheer determination and self-reliance he found success and exemplified the American Dream. His family survived the final bombing campaign of World War II by traveling with his family to hide on the volcanic island in Lake Taal and eventually grew up in Ozamiz, Philippines. Educated at Misamis University elementary school, Dido eventually made his way at the early age of 14 to Manila to study at the University of the Philippines for college and then medical school. At 18, selected by the Rockefeller Foundation, he went to Kansas University medical school on an exchange program. That year, he saw snow for the first time, stood in Times Square on a freezing New Year’s Eve, tried half a beer, and returned home with every penny his parents had given him for spending. On a medical student trip with multiple med schools, he met his beloved Dr. Leonor Testa (Nong) - the yin to his yang. While playing guitar, belting out “I Saw Her Standing There” in the back of the plane, Nong thought he was handsome and introduced herself to him. After many months of courting, Nong proposed and told him they were getting married and did so on April 27, 1968. Their first two children, Bart and Sonjie, were born in Manila. Their young family moved to the USA to pursue further medical training. He was recognized for his surgical skill when assisting in a difficult case, and he quickly earned a competitive position in plastic surgery residency at Columbia Presbyterian. They planned to return home to provide care for his beloved Filipinos, but with Martial Law declared by Ferdinand Marcos in the early 70s, they chose to stay in the US for safety, Leaving most of his family behind, save for one brother in NJ, he chose a freer life with more opportunities, but always longed to be back home. He joined Plastic Surgery Consultants in St. Louis, MO and two more children followed, Joy and Angie. His practice was split between plastic and emergency room reconstructive surgery and completed the third penile reattachment surgery in the US and reattached dozens of limbs that were able to fully function. He was active in the medical community in St Louis and with the Philippine Medical Association and the UP Medical Alumni Society of America, eventually becoming president of UPMASA. He gave back to his country by raising funds and going on yearly medical missions to performing free surgeries such as cleft palates and repair of severe burns for thousands who had no other means to get medical care. Through Gawad Kalinga, he built villages of homes for dozens of families experiencing severe poverty. But Dido was also a true renaissance man. He carved his own electric guitar of wood, whittled slingshots and potato guns for his grandchildren, could name every tree and plant in the Philippine tropics and in his backyard. He had been an avid photographer, capturing gardens, his travels, and his loved ones. As he got older, he also loved searching the city for the best rotisserie chicken, making regular trips to Sam’s club and Walmart, walking his best fur-friend, Sammy, and picking up his grandson from school. And, every day, he played guitar and sang for hours. When words wouldn’t express his feelings, song was his love language. He is predeceased by his love, Leonor Testa, his parents Dr. Jaime and Estella Feliciano; brother Dr. Roberto Feliciano; and his in-laws Antonio and Lourdes Testa. He leaves behind his children Bart, Sonjie (Perry), Joy (Pat) and Angie (Keith); grandchildren: Mae, Theo, Nora, Manny, Owen, Estella, Alex, Luke and Gigi; younger brother Dr. Rey Feliciano. He also leaves behind his brothers and sisters from the UP Medical School class 1966, Nong’s medical school class of 1967, and the dozens of Filipino immigrants who became extended family when they all left the Philippines. His family and friends will miss him terribly but happy to know that he is reunited with Nong. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Dr. Wilfrido Feliciano may be directed to support the Upper Aerodigestive Department at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Please make checks payable to Johns Hopkins University. Gifts may be mailed with a memo indicating that this gift is in memory of Dr. Wilfrido Feliciano to the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, 750 E. Pratt Street, Suite 1700, Baltimore, MD 21202 or make a gift online. If you would like to donate to Gawad Kalinga, please email felicianogkgift@gmail.com. Donations can also be made to https://gk-usa.salsalabs.org/InLovingMemoryofDrWilfridoCastilloFelicianoTitoDido/index.html

Dr. Wilfrido Castillo Feliciano

June 5, 1943 - December 6, 2024