Raphael Addiego, MD

Raphael Addiego, MD passed away unexpectedly on March 5, 2023. Dr. Addiego, 61, was a leading Opthalmologist and vitreoretinal specialist who practiced in Lansing and Battle Creek, Michigan for the past 30 years.

Born Raffaello Addiego May 27, 1961 in Rome, Italy to Frank Addiego of Collingswood, NJ and Jean Hazelden Addiego of London, England, he moved with his family to southern New Jersey when he was two years old. He attended parochial school there and Bishop Eustace Preparatory High School in Pennsauken.

Dr. Addiego graduated with honors from Johns Hopkins University where he met his future wife, Rima, a fellow student. Inspired by his father, a dedicated physician who practiced family medicine in their New Jersey home, he went on to earn his M.D. from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in 1987. After a one year internship at Cooper Hospital in Camden, NJ, he completed a three-year Ophthalmology residency at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary, followed by a one year Retina fellowship with the Retina Associates of Cleveland. Dr. Addiego embarked on his career in private practice at Lansing Opthalmology in 1992 and joined Specialty Eye Institute in 2008, also in Lansing.

With his exceptional skills and unparalleled dedication to enhancing the wellbeing of his patients, Dr. Addiego developed a sterling reputation not only as a superb doctor, but also as a deeply caring and compassionate man. He was committed to making the greatest contribution he could to the quality of his patients’ vision and, in so doing, to touching the lives of others and the community. All who knew him would wholeheartedly agree that he achieved that goal in spades.

To his family, who he loved fiercely and to whom he was devoted, he was a loving, doting husband and father, deeply respected and beloved for his selflessness, perpetual thirst for knowledge, quick wry wit, and playful sense of humor. It is no hyperbole to say that Dr. Addiego was a man of extraordinary talents that extended far beyond his professional achievements. An accomplished musician, he was a talented pianist and a prolific composer. He was also a gifted artist, woodworker and inventor with two patents to his name, among many other talents. Above all, Dr. Addiego was a deeply sensitive and caring man, always looking for opportunities to support his family and to serve others, whether by providing helpful, always spot-on advice on health and a myriad of other topics, taking in his father-in-law when he became infirm, providing unsolicited financial assistance to patients in need, and countless other acts of generosity and compassion.

Dr. Addiego is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years, Rima, sons Alexander and Andrew, daughters Amanda and Alison, mother Jean, sisters Teresa (Tim) and Francesca (Joel), brother Dante, sisters-in-law, Najwa (Vlado) and Nadia (Edmond), nieces Marina, Sophie, SunHi, and Emily, and nephews Nathaniel, Nigel and Noah, who adored him one and all. He was predeceased by his sister Christine and father Frank.

A private family service will be held Friday, March 10 in East Lansing. As a testament to Dr. Addiego’s selfless dedication to patients in need, a fund is being established in his memory by Specialty Eye Institute to support vision patients who would benefit from assistance with medical expenses. In the meantime, those considering making a donation to this fund should send an email to indicate your interest to [email protected]. Another family service for East Coast relatives is being planned in the near future, as well as a gathering for his patients and medical colleagues in memory of Dr. Addiego.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greastlansing.com for the Addiego family.