[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 9 (Thursday, January 15, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF DR. JOHN DIAMANDIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
extraordinary life and accomplishments of my dear friend, Dr. 
Themistocles ``John'' Diamandis, endearingly known as Dr. D.
  Dr. D was born on April 11, 1929, in Tarpon Springs General Hospital 
in Tarpon Springs, Florida. It was a foreshadowing that Dr. D started 
off life in that tiny, 12-bed hospital. He started off his medical 
career in 1961 at Tarpon Springs General Hospital, where he was one of 
three doctors on staff. He spent the next 47 years as a dedicated 
general practitioner there.
  He earned a pharmacy degree from the University of Florida in 1951. 
Prior to medical school, he worked as a pharmacist at Webb's City in 
St. Petersburg, Florida. He earned a medical degree from the University 
of Miami in 1958. While in medical school he worked at Walter Reed Army 
Medical Center and served his country in the Army during the Korean 
war.
  A proud member of the Tarpon Springs community Dr. D cared for 
generations of Tarponites, including the pioneers of the Tarpon Springs 
sponge industry.
  He started his career with his assistant, Cally Catroulis, who 
remained with him, amazingly, for 47 years, until his retirement. He 
opted not to hire nurses, preferring to spend as much time himself with 
each patient by taking, for instance, each blood pressure reading 
himself. While he often ran late having meaningful discussions with his 
patients, I can attest to that, others were happy to wait their turn 
for him, knowing that they would be the subject of his extra care and 
attention.
  Dr. D was always on call for his patients, day or night. He is known 
for making late night and weekend house calls. Before going to bed each 
night, he would check in on his patients at home or at the hospital, 
amazingly. He never failed to treat a sick person, and never asked if 
they had insurance. Sometimes he was paid only with a hot meal or a 
Greek pastry after a house call.
  As a matter of fact, Dr. D was a mentor to my brother, Dr. Emanuel 
Bilirakis.
  In addition to his tireless dedication to his patients, Dr. D has 
been an activist in his community, frequently speaking out on local, 
State and Federal issues, on issues near and dear to his heart such as 
affordable health care, lower taxes, and improved infrastructure. He 
also remained active in his church, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 
and also various civic organizations such as AHEPA.
  Madam Speaker, Dr. D is a rare breed of physician and humanitarian. 
Many describe him as an old fashioned doctor, but his practice embodied 
all that was and is still good in medicine, the strength and importance 
of the relationship between a primary care doctor and his or her 
patients.
  That tiny hospital where he was born and started his medical career 
was the same one he retired from this past September of 2008. Now known 
as Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital, it has grown to a 168-bed facility 
with 356 staff physicians, a legacy of Dr. D.
  Madam Speaker, I can only think of one word to describe Dr. D--axios.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

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