Ronald Paul Mahoney M.D.

Ronald Paul Mahoney, M.D., left this life to join his Father in heaven on March 14, 2015. Ron was born in Standish, Michigan on April 7, 1937, the second of four children of Charles Joseph and Helen Monica Stawowy Mahoney. Ron received an athletic scholarship and played quarterback for the Bulldogs, earning the Bulldog of the Year award for outstanding student athlete before graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from Ferris State University in 1959. Ron received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Loyola University of Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine in 1963 and completed his internship in internal medicine in 1964 at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. He was drafted in 1964 to serve in U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 7th Artillery at Ft. Riley, Kansas, and was sent to war, crossing the Pacific on the U.S.S. Gordon. Ron served as a captain and surgeon with the 1st Infantry’s 2nd Brigade in Vietnam from 1965-66, caring for U.S. soldiers, South Vietnamese military and civilians within and outside the war zone. Capt. Mahoney traveled regularly throughout dangerous territory in his jeep, treating with equal care those suffering with tuberculosis, pneumonia, malaria, leprosy and other life-threatening illnesses. He received the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces and the Vietnamese Medal of Honor for humanitarian service to the South Vietnamese people. His military service always was a tremendous source of pride to Ron and his family. Upon returning from Vietnam he completed both a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Iowa. He and his wife Carol Dwyer Mahoney moved to Houston in 1970 and raised eight children in the Memorial area. Ron practiced cardiology in Houston and in 1977 opened his own practice, Diagnostic Cardiology of Houston, and initiated the cardiology program at the newly opened Memorial Southwest Hospital. He served as the director of cardiology at Memorial Southwest for many years, establishing it as one of the Houston area’s premier hospital cardiology programs. While at Southwest, Ron crafted an outreach program bringing cardiology services to Eagle Lake, Cuero and other underserved areas in southeast Texas, a program inspired and modeled in part on the care he provided to outlying regions during his Vietnam service. At Diagnostic Cardiology of Houston, Ron mentored countless residents and interns at the beginning of their medical careers, maintaining those relationships and guidance throughout his life. At his practice, he remained as loyal to his employees as his patients, sharing their joys and challenges as he worked side by side with many of them for decades. In recent years, Ron initiated the cardiology program at Methodist Hospital Sugar Land, bringing his style of big city medicine with small town quality patient care to yet another growing Houston population. Until last week, Ron continued his exemplary care while still seeing patients at Methodist. In 2008, he was honored with the first-ever Humanitarian Award from the Ferris Foundation at his alma mater, Ferris State University. His fulfilling life away from medicine was devoted to his family, travel with his wife Donna and a lifelong love of literature and learning. He is survived by his wife Donna and eight children, son Dr. Stephen (Suzy), daughter Michelle (Dave) Thomas, daughter Maureen (Derek) Barcinski, son Matthew, daughter Charlene (Max Lyons), daughter Ann Marie (Marek Teklinski), son Michael (Jennifer) and daughter Elizabeth Ann (Evan) Mallett. Dr. Mahoney is also survived by former wife Carol and brother Gerald (Wendy), and grandchildren Jenna and Samuel Mahoney, Aidan Thomas, Meghan and Nicholas Barcinski, Caitlan Mahoney, Lily and Cooper Teklinski, Cameron Mallett and Olivia, Brynn and Colin Mahoney. Ron is survived by numerous nieces and nephews and was preceded in death by his parents, brother James and sister Marilyn Lau. A Celebration of Life with the Holy Eucharist will be at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 345 Piney Point Rd., Houston, Texas 77024 on Saturday, March 21 at 11 a.m. Celebrant is The Rev. Stuart Bates. Following the service the family will receive guests during a reception at Royal Oaks Country Club, 11839 Meadowglen Lane, Houston, Texas 77082. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the St. Francis Episcopal Church or The Westview School (www.westviewschool.org) in Houston or the Ronald P. Mahoney Football Scholarship Endowment at the Ferris Foundation at 101 Prakken Building, Suite 101, 420 Oak St., Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, 49307.

Ronald Paul Mahoney M.D.

April 7, 1937 - March 14, 2015