Dr. Bijan Dibadj

1931 - 2016

Dr. Bijan Dibadj

Dr. Bijan Amir Dibadj, 84, of Swansea, Ill., born Wednesday Sept. 23, 1931, in Tabriz, Iran, died Thursday, March 3, 2016 at Memorial Hospital, Belleville, Ill.

Dr. Dibadj married his loving wife, Lynne Lassen Dibadj, in 1964.

He was preceded in death by his son, Bijan Anthony Dibadj; his parents, Abbas and Sakineh Dibadj; and his siblings, Mamel, Pari, Ali, and Reza.

Surviving are his wife, Lynne; children, Tom (Shannon) Dibadj of Belleville, Ill., Tim (Kathy) Dibadj of Glen Ellyn, Ill., Suzanne (Peter) Sack of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., and Michelle Dibadj of Swansea, Ill.; sister, Sorour Amirsoleimani of Los Angeles, Calif.; and 10 grandchildren, Meara, Bennett, Cade, Tommy, Bryce, Abigail, Claire, Ryne, Boden, and Olivia; several loving nieces and nephews, and beloved pets, Checkers and Sonny.

Dr. Dibadj worked as a pediatrician for over 40 years in Peoria, Ill. He completed his pre-medical studies at Lovain University, Brussels, Belgium from 1951-1954 before going on to receive his doctorate of medicine at Libre University, Brussels, Belgium in 1958. In 1958, he moved to Chicago, Ill., under the Fulbright Program to complete his internship at Columbus Hospital. He completed his pediatric residency at Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Ill., and St. Francis Hospital, Peoria, Ill., from 1961-1964. He also served as the house emergency room physician at St. Francis Hospital, Peoria, Ill., from 1962-1963. From 1964-1966, he practiced medicine in Tehran, Iran before returning to the United States in 1966 to begin practicing Pediatric Medicine with Dr. Robert Hart in Peoria, Ill. In 1969, he started his private practice and continued to practice medicine until his retirement in 2007 from Mt. Hawley Pediatrics. Dr. Dibadj loved all of the patients, children and families he cared for in his long and rewarding career as a pediatrician.

Dr. Dibadj's career accomplishments include being appointed as a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1966. In 1967, he was appointed to serve as the clinical director of the Central Illinois Cystic Fibrosis Chapter. In 1967, he was also appointed as consultant for the Premature Center, St. Francis Hospital, Peoria, Ill. During his lifetime, he was a member of the Peoria Medical Society, Illinois State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. He also served as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at University of Illinois School of Medicine, Peoria, Ill. In addition, he was on the medical staff at Methodist Medical Center, St. Francis Medical Center and Proctor Hospital in Peoria, Ill.

Dr. Dibadj loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and traveling around the world. He was thrilled to make a final family trip to Florida in August 2015. He also loved to watch the St. Louis Cardinals!

The family has asked in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Friends of the Children of Haiti (FOTCOH), Hospice of Southern Illinois, or Cooperative Home Care. Condolences may be expressed online at www.kurrusfh.com.

Services: A celebration of life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 13, 2016, at the Carrington Place Club House, 3900 Essex Boulevard, Swansea, Ill., 62226 and from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 23, 2016, in Peoria, Ill., at WeaverRidge Golf Club, 5100 Weaverridge Boulevard, Peoria, Ill. 61615.

KURRUS FUNERAL HOME, Belleville, Ill.