On Sunday, Sept. 27, the Latino community, as well as the O’Cherony family, suffered a loss. Domingo O’Cherony, doctor until the age of 81, passed away at the age of 97.
Through his years of service as a doctor, which spanned decades and between two countries, O’Cherony had cared for multiple people, mostly within the Latino community. He had taken care of the Hispanic community of Chicago from the late 1950s on into the early 1990s. So what made him stick out from the rest? He was one of the first Spanish-speaking doctors in the Chicago area that catered to the growing Latino population. He also wasn’t one to turn away a patient due to inability to pay, which got him the nickname “Mingo the Merciful.” He took care of people who were and are from different walks of life. There were professors, journalists, politicians, athletes and their kids, as well as regular people.
What can be said about him that the rest of his family, friends and former patients haven’t already said? I had been almost bludgeoned with comments like “He helped me” or even, in a couple of cases, “He saved my life.” During my freshman year here, NEIU honored him among other influential and important Latinos in both the NEIU community, as well as the general Chicago community. I remember when they asked for all of his former patients to stand up. Almost everyone in a packed Alumni Hall, spanning three generations, stood up. That’s just to give some perspective.
Aside from being honored by NEIU, he was also awarded multiple honors from various medical groups, Chicago and on Oct. 6, was recognized by the Cook County Board of Commissioners. It was even more fitting that the recognition was done by a former patient of his, Edwin Reyes (Commissioner, 8th District).
He cared for everyone and helped if he could. Even before he left Cuba in 1956, once a week he would return to his hometown of Consolacion del Sur in the Pinar del Rio province of Cuba to give medical attention to those who would otherwise be unable to afford it. Even though he loved to work, he always managed to find some time for other finer things in life like family and friends. Due to how generous he was with his time with everyone, as well as his willingness to give free medical care to those who couldn’t pay, his wife Rosalyn O’Cherony, retired NEIU Spanish professor, said on multiple occasions that “I told ‘Mingo’ he was born to be a missionary, not a doctor.”
One of the things that he was rich in was friends, as was seen at the memorial service held on Sunday, Nov. 1. Friends from all over the place had shown up to pay their respects. The banquet hall for Monastero’s was filled with his family and friends to celebrate Domingo’s life. Not all of his friends or family made it to the memorial but the banquet hall was still filled. Fellow Cubans, retired doctors, professors and family members stood telling people of their memories of Dr. O’Cherony. I, being one of his grandsons, was asked to say something but I was at a loss for words then.
I guess my memory of him would be that he was tolerant of my differences from my brother Jerome, who followed in his footsteps by becoming a doctor. He encouraged me to not live in my brother’s shadow. He accepted it when I picked up music, philosophy, journalism, writing and politics. Actually, when I started getting involved in politics he did fight it before accepting it. He treated both my brother and I equally but in accordance to our talents and interests.
Dr. O’Cherony is survived by his wife (a retired NEIU professor), two daughters (one of which works in the NEIU Graduate College), three grandchildren (two of which have been involved with the NEIU campus at one time or another), many patients and even more friends. Those who knew him will miss him. Those that didn’t have the pleasure to know him are at a loss for missing out on the opportunity.
On one last note, the O’Cherony family is doing something in the same vein that Dr. O’Cherony would do. They are collecting new toys to donate to the children of Casa Central for Christmas. This will be a part of the annual Casa Central toy drive. If you knew him and wish to honor his memory, feel free to donate. Even if you didn’t know him but think the cause is a worthy one, feel free to donate.
To make a donation in his memory, just purchase a toy online at target.com, on the Casa Central registry, at http://www.target.com/lists/3HLBP2CLD98W9/ or send a check to Ms. Lorena Alonso, Director of Resource Development, Casa Central at 1343 N. California, Chicago, IL 60622. For more information about Casa Central, please contact Lorena Alonso, Casa Central, Director of Resource Development, (773) 645-2476.