Pasquale Anthony Cancilla

Pasquale (Pat) Antonio Giuseppi Cancilla, of Iowa City, IA, died peacefully on January 27, 2026.

Born on April 19, 1930, in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. Pat was the son of Frank and Mary Cancilla.

Pat was a medical doctor who practiced as a neuropathologist. He retired from medicine as the head of the Department of Pathology at the University of California Los Angeles. Throughout his career he was well respected as a colleague, professor, academic, and author of numerous papers on neuropathology.

Beyond professional life, Pat found great joy in singing, many times off key, gardening and politics. In his youth he was a SCUBA instructor and coached little league baseball. Pat was passionate about collecting antiques and had a keen eye for historic preservation. Pat loved nature and converted his ninety-acre row crop farm into a nature preserve with native prairie and woodlands. In the process, he preserved a united family, a 1910 farmhouse and the outbuildings on the property.

Pat was truly a gentle and loving soul. He was always present in his family's life. He was a role model to his children and many of his former students. Pat and his wife, Enid Cancilla, were soul mates and their love shone brightly on their family and friends.

Pat is survived by his children, Jodeane Cancilla (Sandy), Devon Cancilla (Jean), Braden Cancilla (Tamorah) and Erin Melloy (Brian). He is also survived by his grandchildren: Megan (Chris) Mellee, Christine Melloy (Phil), Melissa Melloy (Wyatt), Nate Cancilla, Claire Cancilla, Brenna Cancilla, and Alyssa Cancilla, and great-grandchildren Conor, Linnea and Rowan Mellee. He is also survived by his sister, Joanne Kopec. He was preceded in death by his brother Sam Cancilla, his grandson Nicholas Cancilla and spouse, Enid Cancilla.

A private celebration of his life will follow in the springtime.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Pat Cancilla's memory to Iowa City Hospice & VNA and The Bird House Hospice Home of Johnson County.

Pat Cancilla will be deeply missed but lovingly remembered by all whose lives he touched.