Edward D. Soma

  
EDWARD D. SOMA, M.D.  
On Thursday, August 25, 2011, Edward D. Soma, M.D., died of a broken heart, a mere three weeks after the passing of his beloved wife of 55 years, Anne Soma. Although his family is shattered by his sudden passing, they take some small measure of comfort in the belief that God could not bear to keep Anne and Ed apart any longer.Ed was born in Scranton, PA, the son of David and Tyra Soma. He is survived by his five children, Theresa Soma, Edward Soma, Jr., Nancy Polansky, Diane Dowling, and John Soma; and 12 grandchildren.He graduated from the University of Scranton, the Georgetown University School of Medicine, and completed his residency in Radiology at Georgetown. Dr. Soma practiced radiology at Holy Cross Hospital for over 30 years, performing the first mammogram in the state of Maryland. Dr. Soma was active in many charitable organizations. He served for 43 years as a member of the board of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, where he was also a past chairman of the board, and was recently elevated to Board Emeritus status. Ed was a founding member of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church, where he also served as the chairman of the fundraising and building committee of the new church. In recognition of his contributions to the Church, Dr. Soma was awarded the Caritas Service Award by the Archdiocese of Washington and Catholic Charities, and was awarded the Gold Medal by the John Carroll Society. He was also invested as a Knight of Malta, and then as a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Ultimately, he was invested as a Knight of the Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great, one of the highest honors bestowed upon non-heads of state by the Catholic Church.A public visitation will be held on Monday, August 29, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Parish Hall (lower level) of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church, 7142 Alaska Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20012. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Lebanon. Private interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ed's memory to either the building fund of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church, or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Memphis, TN 38148.www.COLLINSFUNERALHOME.com