PHILIP FOTI Obituary

PHILIP ROBERT FOTI, MD January 5, 1937 December 4, 2024 Born in Elizabeth, NJ, to Frank and Giovanna Foti, Dr. Foti passed away at home in Lanikai, due to complications following a bout of dengue fever several years ago. He was a true Renaissance man: physician, scientist, inventor, architect, artist, musician, coach, canoe paddler, blue water sailor, mentor, and friend to anyone in need of help. Phil met his wife, Mollie, on board the Italian liner Andrea Doria, sailing to Europe in 1955. The voyage lasted 66 years. He graduated from Georgetown University and Medical School in 1961, where he also received his post graduate training in pulmonary medicine. Soon after he was drafted into the Navy and stationed at Kaneohe Marine Base. So began the family's love affair with Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean. After settling in Lanikai the first thing Phil did was acquire a small sailing catamaran and begin to hone his ocean skills. Over his lifetime he owned more than a dozen sailboats and outrigger canoes, introducing his children and grandchildren to the water sports he loved. In 1968 he opened his medical practice in Kailua. He was the first trained pulmonary physician in Hawaii. He received a grant from the American Lung Association that enabled him to establish pulmonary function labs in hospitals throughout the state, an endeavor that took him from island to island for a number of years. From '69 to '72 he was clinical instructor and assistant professor of medicine at U.H School of Medicine. He was Director of the Cardiopulmonary Lab as well as the Critical Care Unit at Castle Hospital for many years. In 1999 he opened an office in Kona, commuting several times a month to see patients there. He also directed the Pulmonary Lab at North Hawaii Community Hospital for years. He finally retired in 2022 after 54 years of serving his community. Over the last decade Dr. Foti worked to help determine the causes of the high number of snorkel drownings in Hawaii as principal investigator of the Snorkel Safety Subcommittee, an arm of the DOH. He published a paper with the findings in 2022. (PMCID:8899085). Dr. Foti had many interests outside of medicine. He loved wood working, opera, wine, designing a home he built in Napo'opo'o, but he especially loved to be out on the water-- sailing and outrigger canoe paddling. He was president of the International Hawaiian Canoe Association for 6 years and on the Board thereafter. His sailboat berthed at Kaneohe Yacht Club was of modest size, but he took his family on interisland voyages every summer as they grew up. With his wife Mollie they chartered boats in the Mediterranean and South Pacific, bringing many friends and family as crew on their adventures. And they did have adventures. He was an exceptional husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather to his family and many others. He is survived by his wife Mollie, 3 children: Katharine (Miles, deceased), John (Mary), Jim (Joey); 11 grandchildren: Caroline, Noah, Jaemon, Nicole, Giulia, Nick, Heather, Connor, Castle, Nala and Chase; 5 great-grandchildren: Linnea, Dahlia, Filipe, Herevai and Ra'i. He was predeceased by his son Frank (Suzi). A celebration of life and ashes scattering will be held the afternoon of January 26 at Lanikai Beach and park.