OBITUARY: Dr. Salvador B. Cecilio, MD
In 1974, Dr. Salvador B. Cecilio moved to Honolulu after finishing his Orthopedic Surgery residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland in 1972 and Emergency Room practice in New York and Pennsylvania in 1973.
With the prodding of a fellow doctor, Dr. Manny Abundo, Dr. Cecilio decided to practice in Wahiawa and rented Dr. Guido Soriano’s back office on 916 Kilani Avenue. First to be hired was Ann Matsumoto who answered an ad for a medical assistant.
After two years, Dr. Cecilio’s need for a bigger office brought him and his team to the Medical Building on 302 California Avenue. They stayed in that clinic for 45 years until 2019. Three years later, on August 15, 2022, Dr. Cecilio passed away at age 80.
Born on May 9, 1942 in Naga City, Dr. Cecilio finished his high school education at Ateneo De Naga, where he was the valedictorian of class ’58. He received his Medical Degree from University of Santo Tomas in 1967. His classmates who found their way to Honolulu are Fernando Ona, MD, Redentor Rojales, MD, Edgar Dela Cruz, MD, Ben Alibudbud, MD, Leo Bocalan, MD, and Danilo Lucila, MD.
The late Dr. Cecilio finished his Residency in Surgery at Clark Airforce Base in 1968 and his Surgical Residency at Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland in 1969.
He is survived by his children, Salvador (Cherry) S. Cecilio, Jenny (Nick) S. Carol, Eric (Maria) S. Cecilio, and Vincent (Rose) S. Cecilio, four grandchildren and siblings Jose Sister Violeta, Daughter of Charity, Hortencia/Nancy C. Dela Cruz, and Margie C. Nessl.
His loyal staff, which grew in number, is composed of Ann Matsumoto P.A., Susan Bailey MA, Barbara Ibous MA, Melinda Cabreros MA and Jane David Medical Secretary.
Matsumoto recalls that “Dr. Cecilio was easily the best Orthopedic Surgeon in Honolulu with a number of shoulder, knees, hips, and hand cases averaging with two surgeries a week in our Wahiawa and St. Francis West clinics/Queens West.”
Off clinic time, Dr. Cecilio was a fellow with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons AAOS. He was also a member at HOA, WOA, HIPA, HFHC, COPHO and member of the Board of Philippine Medical Association of Hawai Medical Missions, Inc. 2013-2022 where he volunteered with its surgery team in medical missions to the Philippines.
Holy Mass for Dr. Cecilio will be offered on October 26, 2022 at 12pm in Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Honolulu, Hawaii. Funeral rites will be held on October 29 at 6pm in Waipio – Mauka Chapel, Mililani Memorial Park. Doors open at 5pm.
Dr. Cecilio’s cremains will be reposed at the Barrameda-Cecilio Mausoleum at Our Lady of Peñafrancia Shrine Cemetery, Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines on November 15, 2022 at 10 am.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the following organizations:
Barrio Care Foundation c/o Fernando Ona, MD at 4766 Kahala Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816
Ohana Medical Missions, Inc. PO Box 1924, Pearl City, Hawaii, 96782