Roger Park
WORTHINGTON - Roger William Park, M.D. passed away on November 26, 2022 at Ahuja Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, Roger grew up in Benton Harbor, Michigan, graduating from University of Michigan School of Medicine in 1959. While in college he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi social and Phi Rho Sigma professional fraternities as well as a member of the Michigan symphonic and pep bands. After internship at Denver Presbyterian Medical Center 1959-60 and a pediatric residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital 1960-62 he served as captain in the USAF before opening his pediatric practice for the next 32 years in Worthington, Ohio. During his career, he served as medical director for the State of Ohio Juvenile Diagnostic Center as well as physician for 10 years at both the Ohio School for the Deaf and the Ohio School for the Blind. Roger was a team physician for Thomas Worthington High School for 28 years, donating countless hours to their athletic programs. He received the Outstanding Team Physician Award from the Ohio State Athletic Association in 1992 and the Team Physician award from the Columbus Medical Association in 1997. Roger was a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics and member of the Academy of Medicine Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio State Medical Association, and American Academy of Sports Medicine. Fishing, cooking, gardening, and coin collecting were lifelong hobbies of his. An avid Michigan football fan, Rog also loved his Buckeyes.
Preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Doris Park, his wife Rita, and brother-in-law Gordon Lewis. He is survived by his children Linda (Jason) Milani of Aurora, Ohio and Tracy (Charles) Celestina of Scottsdale, Arizona, stepsons Dane Nelson (Fred Howard) and Jeff (Sharon) Nelson, granddaughters Megan, Mackenzie, and Cameryn Celestina, Dallas and Jessa Nelson, Jessica Milani, Melissa (Robert) Schwartz, brother Dale (Alice) Park of St. Joseph, Michigan and sister Janet Lewis of Highlands Park Ranch, Colorado as well as many nieces and nephews.
Services and interment will take place in Columbus in the spring.
Family requests no flowers. Please consider a donation to the American Red Cross or the Midohio Food Bank if you wish to do something in remembrance.