Dr. Nicholas P. Foris

Dr. Nicholas P. Foris, M.D., FACS, 85, of Frederick, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. Dr. Foris was born Dec. 15, 1925, in Athens, Greece.

After completing medical school at the University of Athens and serving in the NATO army as a physician after World War II, Dr. Foris came to the United States in 1953 through the prestigious Marshall Plan Scholarship program for physicians. From 1953 to 1962, Dr. Foris completed his cardiovascular surgical training and postgraduate work at the University of Pennsylvania, Jefferson Medical Hospital Center in Philadelphia and the Medical College of Virginia.

In 1964, Dr. Foris began his life's work in the Frederick community through years of service at the Washington Hospital Center in Hagerstown and Frederick Memorial Hospital. As the founding member of the Foris Surgical Group in Frederick, Dr. Foris touched many lives in the Frederick community as a caring physician, chief of surgery and a thoracic cardiovascular surgeon.

In addition to numerous other professional organizations, civic clubs and charities, Dr. Foris was a member of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, the Order of the FMH Good Samaritan, the Elks Lodge of Frederick, the Cotillion Club of Frederick and many others.

In addition to his loving wife, Barbara P. Foris, whom he married on Sept. 7, 1968, Dr. Foris is survived by three loving children, a large extended family and many friends in the United States and Greece. Surviving with his wife, Barbara, are son, Nico Foris and wife Heather Foris of Sterling, Va.; daughter, Paula Foris Ruziska and husband Andy Ruziska of Frederick and daughter, Michelle Foris Marsh and Rob Marsh of Dania Beach Florida. Dr. Foris also has four granddaughters, Barbara Ruziska, Rose Ruziska, Alexis Foris and Kendall Foris; and two additional grandchildren due this spring. Dr. Foris is also survived by two sisters in Greece and many nieces and nephews in the United States and Greece.

The family will receive friends 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick, MD 21701. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at St. John Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 118 E. Second St., Frederick. Burial will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick.