This is to announce the passing of Lino Mario Lapenna, M.D. of Cowpet Bay East, St. Thomas. Dr. Lapenna was born in Pezze di Greco, Italy, on July 28, 1927, and passed away at R.L. Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas on Jan. 2, 2011.
Dr. Lapenna attended medical school in Bari, Italy, and served in the Italian army before immigrating to the United States in 1952, where he continued his medical training in psychiatry. He had psychiatric practices in Hawaii, Montana, Maryland and Delaware, and also served as the mental health director of the Rebibbia Prison in Rome, Italy.
During the early 1970s, Dr. Lapenna was a frequent visitor to St. Thomas, fell in love with the island and purchased a condominium in Cowpet Bay during the property’s development. He permanently moved to St. Thomas in 1990, where he continued his medical practice at Roy Lester Schneider Hospital until his retirement in the early 2000s.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Ettore and Erminia (nee Pepe); his brothers: Dr. Vito Lapenna, Dr. Armando Lapenna and Prof. Fernando "Fredy" Lapenna; and sister, Marisa Teresa Lapenna.
Dr. Lapenna is survived by his loving and beautiful wife, Tina Nkechi; sons, Mark Alan "Marco" of Park Hills, Kentucky, and wife Lorrie, and Lino Mario Jr. of Indianapolis, Indiana; daughter, Luisa Maria Lapenna of Camp Verde, Arizona; and granddaughter, Katrina Elaine Trampush of Camp Verde, Arizona. In addition, he is survived by his mother-in-law, Angelina Iwundi of Imo state, Nigeria; sisters-in-law: Anna Lapenna of Bari, Italy, and Luisa Lapenna of Bari, Italy, Augustina Iwundi Adjeroh of Modena, Italy, Oguchi Iwundi of Modena, Italy, and Aqueen Iwundi Igwe of Lagos, Nigeria; brothers-in-law: Prince Iwundi of Modena, Italy, Emmanuel Adjeroh of Modena, Italy, Emmanuel Igwe of Lagos, Nigeria; nephews and nieces: Dr. Ettore Lapenna of Venice, Italy, Gianvito of Bari, Italy, Andrea of Bari, Ettore of Bari, Italy, Fabio of Venice, Italy, Erminia "Mimma" of Bari, Italy, Giovanna "Vanna" of Selva di Fasano, Italy, Erminia and her daughter Giulia of Bari, Italy, and Julia Adjeroh of Modena, Italy, along with many other nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces in Italy and Nigeria. Dear friends include April and Bryon Newland, and members of the African Association on St. Thomas.
A visitation has been scheduled for Friday Jan. 7, from 5-7 p.m. at Davis Funeral Home, St. Thomas.
All arrangements are by Davis Funeral Home, 774-1464.