Thomas N. Walinski M.D.

Thomas N. Walinski, M.D.

Thomas N. Walinski, M.D. passed away in Scottsdale, AZ on April 25, 2024 with his family at his side. Until retirement, he practiced medicine as an orthopedic surgeon in Honolulu, Hawaii, specializing in scoliosis and spinal injuries.

Born on January 17, 1942 to Thaddeus N. and Genevieve E. (Stempnik) Walinski, he graduated from St. Francis de Sales High School in 1960 where he was an honor student and two-time class president. He also played football, basketball, and golf. He was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow.

Thomas attended Wittenberg University and the United States Air Force Academy before completing a B.S. degree in 1964 at Toledo University. That year, he lettered as a member of the university's conference-champion golf team.

He attended medical school at Creighton University from 1964–68 where he was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. After graduation, Dr. Walinski did an internship in emergency medicine at Denver General Hospital, followed by a one-year residency in general surgery at Milwaukee General Hospital. He then worked for a year in the emergency room of Toledo Hospital.

In 1971, Dr. Walinski began a multi-year residency in orthopedic medicine and surgery at Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu. After completion of the residency, he did a fellowship at two scoliosis clinics, one in Minneapolis associated with the University of Minnesota and one in Rancho Los Amigos, CA associated with the University of Southern California. Upon completion of the fellowships, he returned to Honolulu to join an established orthopedic group where he practiced until retirement. While in private practice, he conducted orthopedic clinics on various islands in the South Pacific and Aleutian Islands. He also served for a time as an adjunct professor in the University of Hawaii Medical School. While living in Honolulu, he developed a passion for skippering his boat, General Hospital, in organized competitions, including in the St. Francis Big Boat Series in San Francisco and the Los Angeles-to-Honolulu TransPac Race.

Shortly after first settling in Honolulu, Dr. Walinski met Margarita Vantucci, a Pan American Airlines flight attendant. They married in 1975 and had two children, Karen Martha and Brian.

At retirement, Dr. Walinski and family moved to Scottsdale AZ where he resurrected his interest in competitive golf and became a nationally ranked senior amateur. For several years, he competed in the Goldwater Cup, an annual competition that sends a group of the state's leading amateurs to play against the state's PGA professionals. He also served as a rules official during numerous United States Golf Association, collegiate, and local Arizona golf tournaments.

His children were his pride. Karen Martha of Scottsdale, AZ has a long career as a flight attendant, like her mother. Brian of Virginia Beach, VA is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and has served as an F-18 fighter pilot. Tom hoped his legacy would be that his children had been raised well.

Dr. Walinski was preceded in death by his parents and by his former wife. He is survived by Karen Martha Walinski and Lt. Com. Brian M. Walinski (Jessica), USN. He is survived also by grandchildren, Meredith, Claire, and Brice; by his brother, Richard (Shelley) Walinski; and cousins, Lynn Rafac, Nancy (Fred) Turner, Marcianne (Dean) Catignani, Barbara (Joel) Schwankl, Deanna (Bruce) Herfel; and Donna (James) Hinkle.

Messinger Funeral Home, Scottsdale, is helping the family with arrangements. messingermortuary.com. At Dr. Walinski's request, there will be no visitation. The family suggests that any memorial donations be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame; St. Francis de Sales High School; The University of Toledo; Creighton University School of Medicine; or Erie Council, Boy Scouts of America.