Alfred F. Parisi

1937 - 2020

Parisi, Alfred F.
On Wednesday April 15, 2020 Alfred F. Parisi loving husband and father, passed away at age 82. Raised in Mount Vernon New York, he was the son of Alfred A Parisi and Lucretia Cecre Parisi. He is survived by wife Susan Ferriman Jenkins and his children, Mark A Parisi and wife Lydia, Christy (Parisi) McLean and husband Robert, and John F. Parisi. Predeceased by former wives, Joan S. Parisi and Anna Albrecht.
He received his undergraduate degree at Georgetown University where he served as president of Alpha Sigma Nu honor society. He subsequently attended Cornell University Medical College in New York City where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. After military service in the US Air Force as Major (1969-1971) in San Antonio Texas, Dr. Parisi pursued a distinguished career as an academic teacher, clinician and researcher.
Early in his career, he was an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Chief of Cardiology VA Hospital, Baltimore Maryland (1971-1974). He moved to Boston in 1974 as Senior Associate in Medicine at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now Brigham and Women's Hospital) and advanced to Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in 1977. As Chief of Cardiology at the West Roxbury VA Medical Center (1974-1988), he directed a cardiology training program considered by many to be the leading independent program in the VA. He later moved to Providence Rhode Island as Professor of Medicine at Brown University School of Medicine and Chief of Cardiology of the Brown University Hospitals (1988-2002).
He was the former President of the American Society of Echocardiography. He earned a national reputation as an innovative researcher. His extensive research publications helped to advance clinical practice in the field of echocardiography.
He was also an outstanding teacher. In addition to being awarded Teacher of the Year while at Brown University, he mentored scores of cardiologists. He was admired and respected by those who were fortunate enough to be trained by him. He was also selected on more than one occasion by his peers to be included in The Best Doctors in America.
In his later years he enjoyed watching baseball, good food and conversation. He especially treasured living on Cape Cod and spending time with his beloved wife Susan and dog Caz, family, and friends.
An early summer memorial is planned at our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville, Massachussetts. Please check Our Lady of Victory website for future details. A funeral service will be held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Miriam Hospital Foundation (Development Office PO Box H Providence, RI 02901), the Weill Cornell Medical College (1300 York Ave, Box 314 New York, NY 10065) or the American College of Cardiology.