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Efraim Pineres, 97

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Efraim Pineres, M.D. passed on March 19, 2020 surrounded by his children and attended by his loving, loyal wife Olga Pineres. Dad was 97 and accomplished so much in his long life. His youth was spent in Cartagena, Colombia, helping his father run their pharmacy, playing with his older brothers and sisters, and helping to raise many of his half brothers and sisters. In total, my dad had 15 siblings!

He attended college and medical school at The University of Cartagena, earning his medical degree in 1951. He practiced general medicine in Colombia, South America (serving as the town mayor during part of that time) before traveling to Chicago, Illinois, to complete a second residency at Northwest Hospital. It took courage to leave behind a comfortable home and a lucrative career in Colombia to start all over again in a new country, but Dad wanted better opportunities for his children, so he took that chance for us. After his residency, he practiced medicine for several years in Illinois and Indiana while raising a brood of nine children. Nine spirited, challenging children!

In 1978, Dad again moved his wife and several children to start up a new practice as a small town, family doctor in Globe, Ariz. Again, the courage that took! Dad cared for so many families in Globe, and, even after he retired, spoke fondly of his friends, employees, and patients. His children clearly remember his dedication to his practice. He had an office phone extension in his bedroom and that phone rang day and night. It was common to hear Dad and Mom chatting with patients, giving them medical advice, and scheduling appointments, even on Saturdays and Sundays! Patients would show up at our doorstep crying and scared, and Dad never turned them away. He was a wonderful doctor and loved his profession enormously.

Dad retired from medicine at 73 years old and spent the next 24 years with his wife in Gilbert, Ariz., enjoying the dream home they built together and their grandchildren. Their home was the core of our family, and it was always full of people and laughter.

Dad was also very witty and funny. His was a dry humor, but he told his share of jokes, as well. His children can tell you that he laughed so hard at his own jokes that none of us got the punchline, but neither could we stop laughing!

But Dad’s greatest accomplishment [by far] was us, his children. We are his legacy. Dad showed us endless love and sacrificed so much for us. He gave us our education, our indomitable wills, our sense of responsibility, our independent spirits, our ability to succeed in life, and our indestructible family bonds. Thank you Papi ! We will love you and miss you forever.

Efraim Pineres, MD was preceded in death by his son William Edwin Pineres, and is survived by his wife, Olga Pineres, two sons Efrain (wife Channy) Pineres and Alberto (wife Glynda Sorrel) Pineres, six daughters Maria (husband Phil) Larson, Lucy ( husband Bruce) Herman, Mary (husband Tony) Naples, Sandy (husband Brian) Pendley, Amalia Pineres (husband John Hughes), Nancy Neiswender (husband Craig Patterson), 15 grandchildren, four  Step-grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and three step-great granchildren.