SALEM— Natércia Luisa Costa Kontoules M.D., aged 62, passed away on October 10, 2020 at Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers after a year-long battle with gastric cancer. She passed comfortably and peacefully with her beloved husband, Charles J. Kontoules, by her side, to whom she was married for 40 wonderful years. Born in Vila Franca do Campo, São Miguel, Azores, she was the daughter of Maurino da Silva Costa and M. Natalia Costa. Luisa was the valedictorian of the Class of 1976 at St. Mary’s High School in Somerville, and went on to graduate Cum Laude in Biology from Harvard University in 1980. Following her undergraduate, she attended NYU School of Medicine and earned her Doctorate in 1984. Luisa returned to Boston to finish her medical training, completing her residency at Tufts University School of Medicine in 1988.
She began her professional career that same year, when she was hired by Swampscott OB/GYN. In 1991, she became a founding partner of Salem Women’s Health Associates, and was also elected a fellow of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Over the years, Luisa worked as an OB/GYN for many different hospitals and health centers, including Salem Hospital, Beverly Hospital, Lynn Community Health Center, Torigian Family Health, and Tufts Medical Center. She eventually opened her own private practice in Peabody, and worked there for over 10 years. During that period, she also worked as an OB at Cape Cod Hospital on weekends, and when she made the decision to close her practice, she was employed by Internal Medicine Physicians of the North Shore. Over the course of her career Luisa helped countless patients, brought nearly 4,000 babies into the world, and was well-respected in the community.
Luisa enjoyed varied interests, including travel (especially to Disney World and Rockport), gardening, music and playing the piano, knitting and cross-stitch, decorating for the holidays, Christmas, and visiting the ocean. Her favorite guilty pleasures were coffee and chocolate. She also enjoyed attending monthly meetings of the North Shore Ladies’ Investment Club.
Along with her husband and parents, Luisa is survived by her children, James R. Kontoules and Laura E. Kontoules, both of Salem; her siblings, Maria Costa of Woburn, Ruben Costa and his wife Maria of Billerica, Paul Costa and his wife Linda of Medford, and Philip Costa of Salem, as well as her loyal canine companion, Macy, and many other dear relatives, friends, and colleagues.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a Memorial Service will be held for Luisa next year, when all are able to gather and share memories. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either Kaplan House or to the Massachusetts East Chapter of the Debbie’s Dream Foundation for gastric cancer research.
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