Louis Umile Pulicicchio Iii, M.D.

Captain Louis Umile Pulicicchio, M.D., USN (Ret.), entered into eternal rest Thursday, September 14, 2017. The relatives and friends of Capt. and Mrs. Louis Umile Pulicicchio III are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1695 Wallenberg Blvd., Charleston. The Rite of Committal will follow at the Mausoleum of Holy Cross Cemetery on James Island. The family will receive friends between 5:00 and 7:00 PM Tuesday at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Hwy. Lou was born April 19, 1931 to Umile Louis Pulicicchio and Maria Giovanna Chiaramonte Pulicicchio in New Rochelle, New York. He attended St Mary’s grade school and Mount Saint Michael Academy followed by Columbia College. He had pneumonia as a child and was one of the first patients to have sulfa drugs used on him which saved his life. He decided then to become a physician. Lou attended George Washington University Medical School in Washington D.C. He went into the Navy and was stationed at many duty stations across the country- St Albans in New York, Great Lakes Naval Station, Philadelphia Naval hospital, Pensacola Naval Hospital and Charleston Naval Hospital. He was the executive officer at Oaknoll Naval Hospital in California. He was the commanding officer for the Camp Pendleton Naval hospital and Jacksonville Naval Hospital. Lou retired from the Navy as Captain (O6) after 32 years of faithful service. He always wanted to learn and move forward. He went to MUSC and got his master’s in Hospital Administration and then became the Medical Director at Trident Hospital. He finally retired to enjoy life with family and friends. Lou had many hobbies, gardening, his love of history, photography, fine music, and his constant pursuit of medical knowledge. He belonged to many professional organizations. He was in the Knights of Columbus, and the Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. He was very involved at church where he was an usher at St Joseph Catholic Church. He was involved in Boy Scouts and was a member of OSIA.He was married to Rachela Evelyn Pulicicchio for 59 years. She was the girl down the road and he fell in love with her when he was 13 years old and she was 11. Their families were very close. She waited for him to get out of medical school and they were married June 14, 1958. They had three children. She followed him everywhere and their love story is timeless. She was totally dedicated to him in all aspects of life, especially in his fight against cancer. They were involved in their church and many organizations and clubs. They made friends all over the country. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Claude Pulicicchio. He is survived by his wife, Rachela Evelyn Pulicicchio, his children Louis Umile Pulicicchio (Martha), Eva-Marie Pulicicchio McRae (Kenneth), and Marc Pulicicchio, his grandchildren Louis Umile Pulicicchio V, Anna Felicia Pulicicchio, Rachel Teresa McRae, and Joseph James McRae. Also survived by Barbara Pulicicchio. Many thanks to all who loved Lou. Thanks to everyone who took wonderful care of him. Thanks to Heartland Hospice who was there in the final days. Special thanks to all the wonderful ladies at Brightstar who adopted Lou and Evelyn as family and took wonderful care of him. Memorial Contributions may be made in Lou's name to St. Joseph Catholic Church Building Fund.