Obituary of Santos Ko
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Santos Ko at the age of 92. A testament to a life well-lived, Santos often shared that as a young man, he could never have imagined leading the life of fulfillment and prosperity that he ultimately achieved.
Santos was born in the Philippines to parents from the Fukien province of China. A bright mind and eloquent communicator, he excelled in the study of languages, fluently forging friendships with individuals across the boundaries of language: in Fukienese, Tagalog and English. A young man, determined to build a future through steadfast tenacity, 17 year old Santos took the path to medicine as his means of securing his future, ultimately choosing anesthesiology as his vocation. He subsequently graduated from Santo Tomas University medical school in 1957 and moved to Chicago where he tirelessly devoted himself to practicing as an anesthesiologist until 1998, with nearly the entirety of his career spent at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
He is survived by his large and loving family including his four daughters Sandi (Rob) Livergood, Shari (Brian) McAdams, Sue (Dave) Scheibel, and Stacy Ko; his ten grandchildren Rob (Christine) Livergood, Jacob (Jennifer) Livergood, Sarah (Mike) Livergood-Contreras, Nic (Marisse) McAdams, Nate (Mila) McAdams, Anna Scheibel, Lexi Scheibel, Drew Scheibel, Caleb Sondag and Jade Sondag; his six great grandchildren Robert, Kate, Breanne, Walter, Juliet, Luca; his sister Anita (Victor) Pineda as well as nephews, nieces and extended family.
In addition to his family, Santos created a close circle of treasured friends here in the United States, most of whom immigrated with him and worked in the medical community. In their cherished time together, Santos and his friends spent endless hours around the mahjong table sharing victories and laughs, and exchanging stories.
Ultimately, Santos was known to those close to him as a dedicated doctor, a reliable friend, a devoted dad, and a gentle grandfather. It is no surprise Santos was a staunch opera connoisseur, as his ability to lend a listening ear to those around him mirrored his quiet and reflective observation of music, art, and life around him. Santos not only had a natural inclination towards making those around him feel heard, but also a dedication to acknowledgement of others, leading as an example for us all in the importance of respect, mutual understanding, and his favorite word around the grandchildren -- “seniority”. His generosity was evident in how he shared his time with those he loved, as well as in his gifting of red envelopes! Santos Ko cultivated a legacy of unwavering selflessness, ceaseless wit, and reflective discernment through a long and fruitful life with love at its center.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made in Santos’s name to the Lyric Opera of Chicago (www.lyricopera.org)