Dr. Eli N. Perencevich Sr.

Cincinnati - Eli Nicholas Perencevich, DO MS passed peacefully on March 7, 2024 at the age of 86. Born September 7, 1937 in Cleveland, Ohio, he graduated from Roosevelt Elementary School and Euclid High School. He excelled academically, and played trumpet in the state championship winning marching band and orchestra. He graduated with an AB in biology from Adelbert College, Western Reserve University in Cleveland in 1961 where he met his wife Ilona Mae (Sadar). They married in 1963. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Developmental Hematology three years later at Kent State University. In 1966 he graduated from Des Moines University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Iowa. He completed his internship, residency, chief residency and American Cancer Society Fellowship at Doctor’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio where he settled and raised his family.

For the next 28 years he was an oncologist and partner in the Victorian Village Internal Medicine Group. Early on, he developed a keen interest in hospice and palliative care. He became the first director of Hospice of Columbus and the Life Care Alliance of Columbus and was one of the first physicians in the country to become certified in this field. He was a faculty member of the new (at that time) Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine where he taught hematology and palliative care, winning several teaching awards. After he “retired” in 1998, he spent the next 17 years at Ohio Division of Disability Determination reviewing and advising on the disability needs of citizens of Ohio diagnosed with cancer.

He loved attending the symphony, especially if Dvorak was on the program, wood carving, and gardening in the style of Capability Brown. In 2015, he fully retired with his wife and best friend Ilona to the Deupree House in Cincinnati, Ohio.

He is survived by his son, Dr. Eli (Jiyun Park) Perencevich, Jr. of Iowa City, Iowa, his daughter, Ilka (Bryce) Lenox of Cincinnati, Ohio, his brother Dr. Nick (Ruth) Perencevich of Concord, New Hampshire, and his uncle Peter Shimrak (Patricia) of Cleveland, Ohio. He adored his four grandchildren: Aiden and Audrey Lenox and Emmelene and Marko Perencevich, as well as his nephew and five nieces.

He is preceded in death by his adoring wife Ilona Mae (Sadar) Perencevich and his parents, Maria Shimrak Perencevich and Nicholas Perencevich. A private service and internment will be held in Columbus, Ohio.

The family wishes memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Cincinnati. Information can be found on its website: https://hospiceofcincinnati.org/donate/.



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