William R. Dito

DITO, WILLIAM R. William R. Dito of La Jolla, California passed away on April 3, 2006 at the age of 76, after a battle with lung cancer. His wife was at his side when he slipped away to be with his Lord. Bill, as he was known by all who loved him was born August 8, 1929 in Alameda, California. He was the youngest of two boys born to Salvatore and Mary Dito. Bill grew up in the Bay area and went to University of San Francisco, graduating with honors in 1950. He followed his dream and attended Loyola University School of Medicine in Chicago graduating in 1954. He then served his country joining the Army Medical Corps in 1955. He began his residency training starting at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and took on many other assignments for our country, including Walter Reed Army Hospital, and a tour of duty at the 20th Station Army Hospital in Nuremberg, Germany in 1960. He was honorably discharged in 1964 after attaining the rank of Major. Bill set up private practice in Pontiac, Michigan in 1965, as Director of Laboratories. He enjoyed integrating computers into laboratory medicine, and served at various times on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, Archives of Pathology, Clinical Laboratory Management Associations and many others. He taught at the University of Arizona Medical School from 1973 to 1976, and finally settling in La Jolla in 1976 assuming the Division Head, Laboratory Medicine at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation where he worked till his retirement from private practice in 1995. He continued to serve in various positions in the American College of Pathologists, as Chairman of the Editorial Board and a member of the Board of Governors. He was awarded the Presidents Medal, College of American Pathologists, in both 1997 and 2004, for his many outstanding contributions in his medical field. Bill married Bridget in 1954 and was married to her for 52 years. Together they had five children, who in turn gave him 11 grandchildren. Bill was a loving husband, a great father, and a doting grandfather. Bill was a member of Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church for 30 years and was a respected member of the community. Bill is survived by his wife Bridget, sons Robert, David, Matthew, Mark, and William, and his 11 grandchildren: Jaime, Lauren, Timothy, Andrew, Daniel, Gabrielle, Madeline, Anthony, Justin, Brittney, the youngest Branden. There will be a Viewing Friday, April 7th from 5-9 p.m. at the Pacific Beach Chapel, 4710 Cass Street, San Diego. Funeral Mass is at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 7669 Girard Ave., La Jolla at 10:30 a.m. April 8th, with gravesite services and burial at 1:30 p.m. at El Camino Memorial Cemetery, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd., San Diego.Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com