A call to lead

In Memoriam: Edward A. Loniewski, DO, past president of the AOA

Dr. Loniewski helped establish MSUCOM as the first publicly funded osteopathic college in the country.

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Edward A. Loniewski, DO, FACOS, FAOAO, who served as the 96th president of the AOA in 1992-93, died Jan. 23 at Angela Hospice in Livonia, Michigan. He was 86.

Dr. Loniewski, of Plymouth, Michigan, was the former chairperson for the Michigan Osteopathic College Foundation, which helped establish the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine as the first publicly funded osteopathic college in the country.

He founded Tri-County Orthopedics, which served four Detroit-area hospitals, and eventually became chairman emeritus of the department of orthopedics at Botsford-Beaumont Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan, where he trained physicians from around the country.

Edward A. Loniewski, DO, FACOS, FAOAO

Dr. Loniewski rose through the ranks of osteopathic leadership by becoming the president of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics. He was then elected president of the American Osteopathic Association for the 1992-1993 term.

He also served as a first ambassador to the Orchard Lake Schools,  as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Cardinal of the Diocese of Detroit and was a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus. His hobbies and pastimes included golf, skiing, collecting wine and woodworking.

Dr. Loniewski is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joanne (Rohrig), sons Dr. Edward (Melissa), Joseph, Thomas (Cindy) and daughters Mary Ann Ransler (Mark) and Dr. Catherine Loniewski-Girdler (Greg) and 14 grandchildren.

Friends and colleagues can pay their respects from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25., at Turowski Funeral Home, 30200 Five Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan. The funeral mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 26, at Our Lady of Good Counsel, 4760 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family respectfully asks for donations to the  American Osteopathic Foundation, designated for the Edward and Joanne Loniewski Merit Scholarship Fund.

6 comments

  1. Kurt A Barrett DO

    I trained under him at Botsford in mid 1970’s. He was a GIANT in our profession. Good natured, honest, hardworking, caring and knowledgeable. I never saw it be “all about me”. You did a good job sir. Rest In Peace.
    Dr Kurt Barrett

  2. Penalope Cook, DO

    If there was ever a better physician, leader, teacher, humanitarian, human being, I’d like to know who that is. Irreplaceable. He will be missed. RIP Dr Loniewski.

  3. Gary A. Gramm, DO

    Dr. Loniewski was a true gentleman, during his years of practice and subsequently as a leader of our profession. I also had the pleasure of training under and working alongside this skillful and compassionate physician in the ED at Botsford in the early and mid 70s.

  4. John MacDermid, DO

    Ed was the Junior Orthopedic Resident when I interned at DOH in 1959- 1960 and beside being a good friend was a great role model! He will certainly be fondly remembered, and missed.

  5. Richard C. Burns, D.O.

    First met him as AOA President at the meeting in Anchorage, AK.
    It was there he used is trademark illustration of the “stool with 3 legs”.

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