Dr. Caterina Damilano, a pediatrician who helped establish the neonatal intensive care unit at the Santa Croce e Carle hospital in Cuneo, died on the evening of Tuesday, August 25, at her home on Viale degli Angeli in Cuneo, according to reports by La Guida and CuneoDice.it. She was 88.
Medical Career and Neonatal Intensive Care Pioneering
Born in Fossano in 1937, Damilano earned her medical degree in Turin. According to initial reports, she was one of only two women among 400 enrolled students in her university course. After specializing in pediatrics, she joined the staff at the Santa Croce hospital in Cuneo in 1972, where she practiced for four decades under the direction of chief physician Adriano Spada. Alongside Dr. Sergio Brignone and the hospital team, Damilano contributed to the creation of the neonatal intensive care unit (Terapia Intensiva Neonatale) during the 1980s. Alongside her hospital responsibilities, she maintained a private pediatric practice in Fossano.
Personal Life and Funeral Arrangements
Beyond her medical career, Damilano was known for her cultural pursuits, including a long-standing subscription to the Teatro Regio in Turin and a passion for classical music and travel, as noted by local coverage. She was preceded in death in 2019 by her husband, Dr. Ezio Girardi, who served as director of the Bank of Italy. She is survived by her sister, Maria Teresa, alongside nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
A rosary service is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, at 5:30 p.m. at the Sacred Heart parish church in Cuneo, according to La Guida. Funeral services will be celebrated on Thursday, August 27, at 10:00 a.m. at the Fossano Co-Cathedral. Following the service, her remains will be transported to the crematorium temple in Magliano Alpi, as reported by La Guida, while CuneoDice.it notes the destination as the crematorium temple in Bra. Family members expressed public gratitude to close friends, family assistants, and the ADAS association for their consistent support.
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