Dr. Maria Fok

AUSTINTOWN - Prayers will begin Saturday morning 12/06/2014 at 9:00am at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 9:30am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church for Dr. Maria M. L. Fok age 96, who passed away peacefully at home early Friday morning 11/14/2014. Maria was born July 6, 1918 in Canton, China, the daughter of Yin Mung and Long Dai Leung. She was married to the late Dr. Thomas D. Y. Fok on September 18, 1949.
Dr. Maria Fok received her M.D. (doctor of medicine) degree in 1942 from National Sun-Yat-Sen University in China, where she was an intern at the university hospital from 1941-1942. In the same university, she was an assistant professor in physiology 1942-1944. From 1944-1947, Dr. Maria Fok was a resident physician at the Chinese Red Cross Hospital. She was a fellow at Western Reserve University in 1948. She received her Master of Science degree from George Washington University in1950. In 1951, she was a resident physician at the Jewish Hospital for Chronic Diseases in New York. From 1954-1956, Dr. Fok was a resident fellow in the school of public health in Pittsburgh, and an associate professor in the same school from 1956-1958. She was an intern at the Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren Ohio from 1958-1959. From 1959 - 2004 she was a resident of Youngstown Hospital Association. She established her private practice in 1960 and practiced as a family physician through 2004. Her publications included myocardial metabolism, hemodynamic changes and coronary flow by means of cardiac catheterization on normal and failing heart of dogs with further delineation of sodium retention. She was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Austintown, American Medical Association, Ohio State Medical Association, Mahoning County Medical Society, American Academy of family practice, Sigma Xi Society, Scientific Research Society of America, American Medical Women's Association. Dr. Maria Fok is listed in American Men of Science Who is who of American Women. She
also received several Physicians' Recognition awards from the American Medical Association. In 1972, she was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society, Mahoning County Unit, Ohio division. In 1973, she was the Chapter Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice. 1974, she was a member of the Medical Delegate, Mahoning Cancer Society Inc. and a Medical member of the Mahoning County Board of Health. From 1985-1986 she joined the committee on Medical Health Care Issues appointed by the Ohio State Medical Association.
Dr. Maria Fok had a medical office in Austintown for the last 55 years and served three generations of families. She was proud to have helped deliver over 100 babies throughout her medical career. She enjoyed writing poetry, flower gardening in her spare time, and visiting with friends who saw her just about every day for the last 60 years. The family would like to express deep gratitude to Dr. Devine, Dr. Aromatorio, and Dr. Chiu for their special medical care towards Dr. Fok. The family is also very grateful to her many friends who carried her through when we could not be by her side.
Dr. Maria Fok is survived by an older sister, Dr. Rose Leung Huang; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, and many cousins.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers.
The family has requested that material tributes take the form of donations to either the St. Vincent De Paul Society of Youngstown or the American Cancer Society in Dr. Maria Fok's memory.
Friends and family may call from 4pm-7pm Friday evening 12/05/2014, at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel.
This tribute may be viewed and condolences sent to www.higgins- reardon.com