Vincent Machaj

Vincent R. Machaj VIRGINIA BEACH - Dr. Vincent Richard Machaj, known affectionately by friends and family as "Vinny," passed away at his home in Virginia Beach early Wednesday morning, Jan. 14, 2009. Surrounded by his family, Vincent died at age 58 after a 4 1/2 -year battle with cancer. Vincent will be remembered most for his sense of humor. He was a loving father and husband, a gifted and dedicated physician and a cheerful and caring friend. Vincent was born at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh in 1950, son of Dr. Theodore Stanley Machaj and Mary Jane Hrutkay, and brother to Carolyn Machaj Banks. He spent his childhood in Bethel Park, Pa., where his mother still resides, and he graduated from Bethel Park High School. Vincent attended Boston College as an undergraduate, from whence he graduated summa cum laude in 1972. He went on to attend medical school at the University of Pittsburgh where he received his M.D. degree in 1976. Vincent performed his medical internship in the Harvard surgical program in Cambridge, Mass., and it was there that he met his wife of 31 years, Helen Theresa Buonopane. He completed his residency and fellowship in cardiac anesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Vincent and his family relocated to Virginia Beach in the fall of 1983 where he began working as a cardiac anesthesiologist at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters. His practice later expanded to include Virginia Beach General Hospital. He was a founding partner of Anesthesia Specialists and he worked with that group until the time of his cancer diagnosis. Vincent is survived by his loving wife, Helen; his five children, Matthew, Helena, Christine, Laura and David; his mother, Mary Jane; his sister, Carolyn; his niece, Stephanie and his nephew, Eric. Vincent was predeceased by his father, Theodore and his grandparents, John and Mary Machaj and Leopold and Mary Hrutkay. He also leaves behind a host of colleagues and friends in all the places where he lived and worked, but especially in Virginia Beach and Pittsburgh. The family will receive friends at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Star of the Sea Catholic Church with a funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. and a reception will follow in the church social hall. Star of the Sea, Vincent's parish for more than 20 years, is located at 1404 Pacific Avenue at the Oceanfront in Virginia Beach, (757) 428-8547. Vincent will be interred at Princess Anne Memorial Park in a separate private service. Funeral arrangements are being handled by H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Laskin Road Chapel, in Virginia Beach, (757) 428-7880. In lieu of flowers, Vincent's family requests that memorial contributions be made to The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, DUMC Box 3624, Durham, NC 27710, or on their web site at http://www.cancer.duke.edu/btc/. Online condolences may be made at www.hdoliver.com. Vincent's family would like to extend their gratitude to all those who were a part of his life, as well as those who offered support, assistance and prayers during his illness. May you remember him fondly, his jokes and his smile, his care and respect for the patients he served.