(Russian: Пётр Волконский)
President of the Arthritis Foundation.
Dr. Peter Wolkonsky, 76, who was credited with increasing the awareness of arthritis through his work with the Arthritis Foundation in Chicago, died of cancer Sunday at St. Joseph Health Centers and Hospital, Chicago.
In 1974, Dr. Wolkonsky became president of the Arthritis Foundation and four years later became chairman of the executive committee.
"Back then there were times when the foundation may have ceased to exist had it not been for Peter and his tireless efforts in the corporate community," said Tom Fite, current president of the Arthritis Foundation, Greater Chicago chapter.
Dr. Wolkonsky is credited with helping large corporations sponsor benefits for the foundation. With the financial support, Dr. Wolkonsky helped increase awareness of the importance of arthritis research, said Fite.
Dr. Wolkonsky's mother, a princess of the Russian aristocracy, fled Russia during the Bolshevik revolution and made her way along with family members to Monte Carlo, Monaco, with the help of an English sea captain, said Dr. Wolkonsky's wife, Mary Ward Wolkonsky.
Wolkonsky's mother, Marina, later came to Chicago, penniless, and taught French and Russian, said Mary Wolkonsky. Marina Wolkonsky returned to Paris and married, but lived briefly in New York, where her son was born, Mary Wolkonsky said.
Dr. Wolkonsky spent much of his childhood in Paris, before settling in the Chicago area. He attended the North Shore Country Day School and later the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a 1946 graduate of the University of Chicago.
Dr. Wolkonsky, whose specialty was internal medicine, was chief resident at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, and then returned to Chicago where he became medical director of what was then known as Standard Oil Co. of Indiana.
In 1980 he married Mary, the widow of former Commonwealth Edison Chairman J. Harris Ward.
"He was loaded with charm, just loaded. . . . I couldn't possibly describe what made him so attractive," his wife said.
Dr. Wolkonsky received several academic scholarships that helped him get through medical school, and his work for charitable organizations in later years was a form of payback, Mary Wolkonsky said.
His dedication to the Arthritis Foundation culminated in 1993 when the organization gave him its Freedom of Movement Award. At the time, President Clinton wrote of Dr. Wolkonsky: "The dedication you have shown in your lifelong campaign against rheumatoid arthritis has made a real difference to the millions of Americans who suffer from this condition."
In addition to his wife, Dr. Wolkonsky is survived by a stepson, David Ward; three step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. A memorial service at the University of Chicago is planned for the fall.
ob;
President of the Arthritis Foundation.
Dr. Peter Wolkonsky, 76, who was credited with increasing the awareness of arthritis through his work with the Arthritis Foundation in Chicago, died of cancer Sunday at St. Joseph Health Centers and Hospital, Chicago.
In 1974, Dr. Wolkonsky became president of the Arthritis Foundation and four years later became chairman of the executive committee.
"Back then there were times when the foundation may have ceased to exist had it not been for Peter and his tireless efforts in the corporate community," said Tom Fite, current president of the Arthritis Foundation, Greater Chicago chapter.
Dr. Wolkonsky is credited with helping large corporations sponsor benefits for the foundation. With the financial support, Dr. Wolkonsky helped increase awareness of the importance of arthritis research, said Fite.
Dr. Wolkonsky's mother, a princess of the Russian aristocracy, fled Russia during the Bolshevik revolution and made her way along with family members to Monte Carlo, Monaco, with the help of an English sea captain, said Dr. Wolkonsky's wife, Mary Ward Wolkonsky.
Wolkonsky's mother, Marina, later came to Chicago, penniless, and taught French and Russian, said Mary Wolkonsky. Marina Wolkonsky returned to Paris and married, but lived briefly in New York, where her son was born, Mary Wolkonsky said.
Dr. Wolkonsky spent much of his childhood in Paris, before settling in the Chicago area. He attended the North Shore Country Day School and later the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a 1946 graduate of the University of Chicago.
Dr. Wolkonsky, whose specialty was internal medicine, was chief resident at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, and then returned to Chicago where he became medical director of what was then known as Standard Oil Co. of Indiana.
In 1980 he married Mary, the widow of former Commonwealth Edison Chairman J. Harris Ward.
"He was loaded with charm, just loaded. . . . I couldn't possibly describe what made him so attractive," his wife said.
Dr. Wolkonsky received several academic scholarships that helped him get through medical school, and his work for charitable organizations in later years was a form of payback, Mary Wolkonsky said.
His dedication to the Arthritis Foundation culminated in 1993 when the organization gave him its Freedom of Movement Award. At the time, President Clinton wrote of Dr. Wolkonsky: "The dedication you have shown in your lifelong campaign against rheumatoid arthritis has made a real difference to the millions of Americans who suffer from this condition."
In addition to his wife, Dr. Wolkonsky is survived by a stepson, David Ward; three step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. A memorial service at the University of Chicago is planned for the fall.
ob;
(Russian: Пётр Волконский)
President of the Arthritis Foundation.
Dr. Peter Wolkonsky, 76, who was credited with increasing the awareness of arthritis through his work with the Arthritis Foundation in Chicago, died of cancer Sunday at St. Joseph Health Centers and Hospital, Chicago.
In 1974, Dr. Wolkonsky became president of the Arthritis Foundation and four years later became chairman of the executive committee.
"Back then there were times when the foundation may have ceased to exist had it not been for Peter and his tireless efforts in the corporate community," said Tom Fite, current president of the Arthritis Foundation, Greater Chicago chapter.
Dr. Wolkonsky is credited with helping large corporations sponsor benefits for the foundation. With the financial support, Dr. Wolkonsky helped increase awareness of the importance of arthritis research, said Fite.
Dr. Wolkonsky's mother, a princess of the Russian aristocracy, fled Russia during the Bolshevik revolution and made her way along with family members to Monte Carlo, Monaco, with the help of an English sea captain, said Dr. Wolkonsky's wife, Mary Ward Wolkonsky.
Wolkonsky's mother, Marina, later came to Chicago, penniless, and taught French and Russian, said Mary Wolkonsky. Marina Wolkonsky returned to Paris and married, but lived briefly in New York, where her son was born, Mary Wolkonsky said.
Dr. Wolkonsky spent much of his childhood in Paris, before settling in the Chicago area. He attended the North Shore Country Day School and later the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a 1946 graduate of the University of Chicago.
Dr. Wolkonsky, whose specialty was internal medicine, was chief resident at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, and then returned to Chicago where he became medical director of what was then known as Standard Oil Co. of Indiana.
In 1980 he married Mary, the widow of former Commonwealth Edison Chairman J. Harris Ward.
"He was loaded with charm, just loaded. . . . I couldn't possibly describe what made him so attractive," his wife said.
Dr. Wolkonsky received several academic scholarships that helped him get through medical school, and his work for charitable organizations in later years was a form of payback, Mary Wolkonsky said.
His dedication to the Arthritis Foundation culminated in 1993 when the organization gave him its Freedom of Movement Award. At the time, President Clinton wrote of Dr. Wolkonsky: "The dedication you have shown in your lifelong campaign against rheumatoid arthritis has made a real difference to the millions of Americans who suffer from this condition."
In addition to his wife, Dr. Wolkonsky is survived by a stepson, David Ward; three step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. A memorial service at the University of Chicago is planned for the fall.
ob;
President of the Arthritis Foundation.
Dr. Peter Wolkonsky, 76, who was credited with increasing the awareness of arthritis through his work with the Arthritis Foundation in Chicago, died of cancer Sunday at St. Joseph Health Centers and Hospital, Chicago.
In 1974, Dr. Wolkonsky became president of the Arthritis Foundation and four years later became chairman of the executive committee.
"Back then there were times when the foundation may have ceased to exist had it not been for Peter and his tireless efforts in the corporate community," said Tom Fite, current president of the Arthritis Foundation, Greater Chicago chapter.
Dr. Wolkonsky is credited with helping large corporations sponsor benefits for the foundation. With the financial support, Dr. Wolkonsky helped increase awareness of the importance of arthritis research, said Fite.
Dr. Wolkonsky's mother, a princess of the Russian aristocracy, fled Russia during the Bolshevik revolution and made her way along with family members to Monte Carlo, Monaco, with the help of an English sea captain, said Dr. Wolkonsky's wife, Mary Ward Wolkonsky.
Wolkonsky's mother, Marina, later came to Chicago, penniless, and taught French and Russian, said Mary Wolkonsky. Marina Wolkonsky returned to Paris and married, but lived briefly in New York, where her son was born, Mary Wolkonsky said.
Dr. Wolkonsky spent much of his childhood in Paris, before settling in the Chicago area. He attended the North Shore Country Day School and later the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a 1946 graduate of the University of Chicago.
Dr. Wolkonsky, whose specialty was internal medicine, was chief resident at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, and then returned to Chicago where he became medical director of what was then known as Standard Oil Co. of Indiana.
In 1980 he married Mary, the widow of former Commonwealth Edison Chairman J. Harris Ward.
"He was loaded with charm, just loaded. . . . I couldn't possibly describe what made him so attractive," his wife said.
Dr. Wolkonsky received several academic scholarships that helped him get through medical school, and his work for charitable organizations in later years was a form of payback, Mary Wolkonsky said.
His dedication to the Arthritis Foundation culminated in 1993 when the organization gave him its Freedom of Movement Award. At the time, President Clinton wrote of Dr. Wolkonsky: "The dedication you have shown in your lifelong campaign against rheumatoid arthritis has made a real difference to the millions of Americans who suffer from this condition."
In addition to his wife, Dr. Wolkonsky is survived by a stepson, David Ward; three step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. A memorial service at the University of Chicago is planned for the fall.
ob;
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