Obituaries

Trieste Guido Vitti   It is of great regret that we announce the death of Dr. Trieste Guido Vitti. He passed away peacefully at West Park Manor Personal Care Home, Winnipeg, Manitoba on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at the age of 90 years. Surviving him are his wife, Esther, his sons, James (Briget) and Peter, and daughters, Mary Ann (Stephen) and Lisa, and his grandchildren, Lara, Nicholas, and Breanna, as well as his niece Noreen (Robert). He was predeceased by his sister Piarosa, and parents Onoria and Giacomo Vitti.   Trieste Guido Vitti was born May 22, 1925, in the city of Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. of Onoria Puzzuolli and Giacomo Vitti of Casavieri, Italy; 25km. south of Rome.   First generation American, Trieste grew up within Detroit’s thriving Italian community. Many of his father’s boyhood friends had left Italy to start a new life in Detroit. His father Giacomo, founded the Casaverana Muto Socorso Societa with a membership of 300 compatriots. The Society’s social occasions filled Trieste with loving memories of community, friends, and family. He would take his wife and children to many Casaverana picnics and festas at springtime. His children would know the beauty of the Italian culture and the philosophy of la famiglia. Trieste’s fondest memories of his youth were with friends, especially with his life-long friend, Anthony Franzone. The Vitti home was always filled with visitors. To this day, Trieste’s family keeps close ties to family and friends in Detroit, Michigan.   Trieste had proven a highly gifted academic. He received most of his education in Catholic institutions: grade school at St. Elizabeth School and high school at Catholic Central High School (’40-’43). At age 19, he reaffirmed his Catholic faith at Sacred Heart Seminary (’43-’44) examining the possibility of becoming a Jesuit priest. There, he was awarded a scholarship for academic excellence. Faith in God and a love for Saint Anthony of Padua would serve as personal guides for him the rest of his life.   Trieste then went onto the University of Detroit (Jesuit School) to complete his four year Bachelor of Science Degree majoring in Chemistry; final G.P.A. 3.72, Magna cum Laude, and then his Master of Science Degree majoring in Biochemistry; final G.P.A 3.76.   In ’52, he attended the University of Michigan Ann Arbor to pursue a Doctorate of Philosophy in Pharmacology. There, he served as the chairmen of a recreation committee for his male dormitory and organized a summer dance. In overseeing the dance, he asked an Education graduate student, Esther Marie Kiefasz, age 25, to dance. Married November 14th, 1953, they would remain dancing partners in mind, body, and spirit.   Trieste then returned to Detroit to help his family, transferring into a Doctorate Degree program at Wayne State University with a major in Biochemistry and a minor in Pharmacology. (54′-61′). It was incredible how hard he worked. He did research for his PhD. while working two jobs to support his wife Esther and his growing family: James Anthony, Mary Ann, Peter Joseph, and Lisa Rose.   Trieste’s professional career had included many positions in academia, the pharmaceutical industry and the U.S. federal government. His career included being an Instructor at Providence Hospital ’51, a pre-doctoral research assistant at the University of Michigan, School of Medicine, Dept. of Pharmacology ’52, and an Instructor at the University of Detroit, Dept. of Chemistry ’53. He also served as a Clinical Chemist at Harper Hospital in Detroit ’54-’56.   Trieste would have the happiest moments of his teaching career between the years ’53-’62 as an assistant professor at the School of Dentistry, University of Detroit.   From ’56-’64, he worked as a pre-doctoral research assistant and pre-doctoral fellow in the Department of Biochemistry, Edsel B. Ford Institute for Medical Research, Henry Ford Hospital, where he studied the growth hormone and its effects on the various components of the liver.   Trieste then moved his young family, to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, were he was appointed a three year post-doctoral fellow-lecturer appointment at the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba. There, he initiated independent research involving nephrotoxic agents and the biochemistry of the kidney. He was assigned lecture responsibilities in medical pharmacology-therapeutics courses, graduate seminars, supervision of medical and graduate-pharmacology students and their research projects.   In ’67, he and his family moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan where he joined the Upjohn Company as the acting Chief of their Medical Biopharmaceutics Unit. His responsibilities included directing and co-ordinating over 40-50 clinical studies related to the bio-pharmaceutics, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics of the many Upjohn drugs on the market including antibiotics, steroids, sulfonylureas, and oral contraceptives.   Trieste then received an invitation from the Federal Food and Drug Administration in Washington, D.C., as Director of one of its four main branches, the Division of Extramural and Clinical Research. Here, he was responsible for three major branch functions: to conduct clinical research on marketed drugs, to maintain a clinical laboratory for drug analysis and medical screening tests on volunteer subjects, and to monitor and evaluate an entire range of domestic and international research projects undertaken by the Bureau of Drugs. His main aim was to screen, develop and evaluate the safety and the effectiveness of drug products for the American public.   In ’72, he was invited to teach as a full professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Manitoba; tenure ’75. He would remain in academia for the next 23 years, often turning down leading positions in U.S. industry. While at the U. of M., Trieste had teaching and research responsibilities in bio-pharmaceutics, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics. He developed, implemented, and was a part of numerous research projects in the faculty, in partnership with other faculties, universities, and industry in the U.S. and Canada. He was the recipient of a number of research grants most notably from the Medical Research Council of Canada, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (U.S.A.) esp. for his clinical research on cocaine. He served on the U. of M. Senate, as well as numerous research organizations in the U.S. and Canada. He retired in 1995. He continued to council people on the health effects of drugs.   All his life, Trieste had many talents. A life-long oil-painter and sketch artist, he joined the Manitoba, Artists’ Association. He took courses in architectural design whose knowledge he used to build his own home, a sunken garden, deck and pergola. He spoke fluent English and Italian, and was a student of the French and German languages, notably translating German scientific journals for his PhD. He was an active member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and the Kinsmen Re-fit Center. On retiring, he joined the American Rosarian Society. He loved travelling, opera, lawn bowling, Tony Bennett, ornithology, politics, philosophy, photography, walking, swimming, pugs and Boston terriers, parakeets, good movies and light comedy, good food, and produced his own wine. He was always a generous spiritual friend to those in need.   In compliance with Trieste’s wishes, no formal Funeral Service will be held.   We would like to thank all the staff at West Park Manor Personal Care Home for the excellent care and quality of life provided to him in his last years.   Donations may be sent to the Trieste and Esther Vitti Scholarship Fund at the University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.   A loving and dedicated husband and father, you gave us guidance and inspiration as well as identity and pride. You were always the personal rock for whom everyone turned. Now, Dad, you are our Eternal Light, and we will love you forever.   Wojcik’s Funeral Chapels & Crematorium, Winnipeg, 2157 Portage Avenue, 204.897.4665 www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com