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Children's Heart Surgeon From South Jersey Dies, 40: 'Cared Deeply For His Patients'

A Linwood native who was a renowned children's heart surgeon has died, according to a memorial fundraiser.

Dr. Louis Capecci of the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.

Dr. Louis Capecci of the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.

Photo Credit: GoFundMe/Hawaii Pacific Health

Dr. Louis Capecci died at 40 years old on Monday, Mar. 11, 2024, his obituary said. The cause of his death was not mentioned.

Dr. Capecci was the first pediatric heart surgeon in the history of Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. The hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii, hired him in February 2022.

A GoFundMe page for Dr. Capecci said he was inspired to begin a career in medicine because he was born with a congenital heart defect and needed several open-heart surgeries as a baby.

"He was a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon who cared deeply for his patients," the GoFundMe page said. "Lou was the most committed and loyal friend and we consider ourselves lucky to have been in his orbit for most of our lives.

"Lou wanted to return to the world of medicine what it had done for him all those years ago."

The GoFundMe page had raised more than $62,000 from at least 325 donations as of Monday, Mar. 18. The memorial fundraiser said the money will go toward his family's "short- and long-term expenses, including medical bills, relocation, and college funds."

The Mainland Regional High School graduate received his Bachelor's degree from Drexel University in 2007. He completed medical school at Temple University in 2012 and residency training at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh in 2017.

Dr. Capecci also went on to fellowships at Penn State Health-Hershey Medical Center and Stanford University. Stanford's medical school website said he was a clinical assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery and a member of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute.

Despite hard work in surgery to save the lives of children, Dr. Capecci's GoFundMe page said he always made time for his family.

"He was a doting father and caring husband," the memorial fundraiser said. "Even though he worked long hours under extreme pressure, he was the rock in their family."

Funeral services were held for Dr. Capecci at Congregation Beth Israel in Northfield on Sunday, Mar. 17.

You can click here to see Dr. Louis Capecci's GoFundMe page.

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