Dr Laurie Chitti

The wife of a respected Adelaide doctor, who died from cancer, has revealed she too was battling the disease while his condition deteriorated.

Laurie Chitti, 50, was a husband, father, and gastroenterologist at Western Hospital in Henley Beach, and died on August 23.

He was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2017, a year after his wife Rita Chitti discovered she had breast cancer.

After a treatment of Tagrisso, a drug used to treat lung cancer, Dr Chitti's condition improved, but his family noticed a change in his mannerisms about a year ago.

"I asked to have further investigations which is when we found out it (the cancer) had spread to his brain," Ms Chitti told The Advertiser.

 To make matters worse, in 2021, Ms Chitti's breast cancer recurred, and she spent most of the year battling for her health while also caring for her husband.

It was in September 2021 Dr Chitti had to give up his position at Western Hospital, as he was not of sound mind due to the brain cancer, which his widow says was very challenging.

"He still, even though he didn't really understand what was going on and was not capable of working, wanted to go to work everyday," she said.

"He put on his scrubs … or his professional outfit if he knew he was consulting, and I had to stop him, I had to physically stop him, it was just ingrained in him."

Dr Chitti left behind two children, Franco, 22, who is studying to be a physio and Alessia, 18, who is currently completing year 12 at St Ignatius College.

Alessia aspires to follow in her father's footsteps and also one day become a doctor.

Despite facing such challenging circumstances, Ms Chitti remembered her husband as loving and pure of heart.   "The last two months he was bedbound, which was also tough, so I was consumed with that, and I was consumed with my own health, and then the funeral," she said.

"You get to this point and you just feel empty and lost.

"He was just pure of heart, the best person I've ever met, he was my best friend."

Being a doctor was what her husband lived for, Ms Chitti said.

"His father's a GP and his mother's a pharmacist and its all he ever wanted to do, all he wanted to do was help people, he just about didn't care about the money," she said.

"He lived for his work and his family, that's all he cared about."

The Western Hospital paid a touching tribute to Dr Chitti, who started as a visiting medical officer in 1998.

"In 2003 when the hospital was placed up for sale, it was Laurie who was front and centre leading the charge for the hospital to remain open," a hospital spokeswoman said.

"Laurie was deeply committed to Western, his patients and to the Western family.

"Shareholding was offered to Laurie in 2014 which he gladly took up and has never been bothered that the hospital didn't make huge money or pay big dividends.

"He was happy that this was a way of keeping a hospital in the western suburbs.

"Money was reinvested into the operations of the hospital, and this will be forever one of his many legacies. We loved him, and we miss him dearly."

In a story published by the Sunday Mail in 1998, Dr Chitti reflected on winning radio station KAFM's kissing competition with Rita five years prior.

he couple locked lips for three hours and one minute on Valentine's Day in 1993, winning them $1000 in prize money.

"After that, I couldn't go near her for weeks," he joked at the time.

DAUGHTER'S EULOGY

Dr Chitti's funeral was conducted by Peter Elberg Funerals at St Ignatius Catholic Church, Norwood, and attended by 1500 mourners on September 2.

Below is the eulogy read at the service by his daughter Alessia.

Beginning to write this was potentially one of the hardest things I've ever had   to do. Because of the emotional aspect, yes, but also because there is so much about Laurie, my dad, that I would like to share.

I could stand up here and speak all day and it still wouldn't be enough. Everyone who encountered him was better off for his presence in their lives, whether they knew him as Ilario, Laurie, dad, Uncle Loz, or Dr Chitti.

It would be an egregious understatement to say that he had an excellent rapport with his patients and colleagues - my family have been told on numerous occasions how his humour in the workplace was witty and cheeky and his kindness and generosity was testament to the wonderful person and doctor he was.

His tendency to write hilarious comments on people's behinds during their colonoscopies is merely one example of an area where his cheeky nature shone through. My personal favourite instance of this is when he wrote "Sloane for Brownlow" on Kane Corne's behind, which Kane took a photo of and posted on Facebook, going quite viral as a result.

Not to mention, there was also the myriad of "tramp stamp" temporary tattoos that he kept on hand for such an opportunity. This is made even funnier when you know the playful chuckle that he exudes right before causing mischief, eyes lit up at the thought of the unsuspecting victim's reaction.

On a more serious note, Laurie has truly been my role model for all 18 years of my life and it's not difficult to understand why for those who have at some stage been graced with his presence, for he was the utmost pinnacle of selflessness and strength.

In terms of selflessness, he lived every day to help someone else - whether this was to help his patients, or to sacrifice any time and energy that remained to spend time with his family and friends. I'm grateful for this time I was fortunate enough to spend with him, pre- and post-diagnosis.

Some of my favourite memories in particular involved our shared love of books, as we would go into Dillon's bookstore on the Parade weekly after school to browse the new books, followed by a brief ice-cream stop on our way home.

He also used to read The Faraway Tree to me each night before bed no matter how trying or tiresome his day may have been, which was indicative of his dedication and devotion as a father.

My dad and brother's favourite activity to undergo together was by far fishing, particularly on our annual Moonta Bay family holiday. A memory that resonates with Franco was the long-awaited moment when dad finally, begrudgingly, admitted that Franco was the better fisherman on the Moonta Bay jetty.

They also bonded over their adoration for the Crows and treasured their time spent together supporting this objectively superior team. In fact, in 2017, he found a way to get him and Franco a ticket to each and every final, with the highlight being the hug they shared after Charlie Cameron kicked the very first goal at the preliminary final against Geelong.

Everything my dad did for Franco and I was undoubtedly so that we could become the best people we could be, even better than him as he would say. Though, I don't think it is physically possible to be a better person than my dad, call me biased I don't care.

However, no one's perfect and while my dad was many, many amazing things, patient he was not. Many hours were spent at the kitchen table looking at mathematic equations through tears as he repeated "WHAT'S 4 TIMES 7?" and I'd respond with the most outrageously incorrect answer you could imagine; my fear audible in my shaking voice.

Nonetheless, I understand now that I am older that everything, yes even his teaching methods, was so that he could see Franco and I grow up to achieve our full potential. And that he did: I'm beyond grateful that he was able to see me turn 18 and be there for the various academic achievements I've accomplished over the years, as well as to see the manner in which I've conducted myself in the face of every adversity, including mum and dad's diagnoses on multiple occasions.

He's also seen my brother be accepted into Physio and grow into the most kind-hearted character who has also carried himself exceptionally, having to play the role of mediator on several occasions in order to avoid conflict.

People say I look like my father, but I truly see his nature carried through my brother every day as they are both so compassionate when it comes to caring for family and friends and this is something I admire and value so deeply.   I know that dad would be so proud of us both and that makes me happier than I can ever express.

This next reflection is from my mum which I will read on her behalf …  

My earliest memory of Laurie dates all the way back to the age of around 10 - we were at the Cocchiaro house and Laurie was monopolising the trampoline. I desperately wanted a turn, so I jumped on and kicked him off in the process.

He was so obliging that I liked him instantly. From that moment, I recall being beyond excited for the next Cocchiaro event in the anticipation that the Chitti's might be there as well. Similarly, from the age of about 15, I found myself attending Mass at Christ the King just for the glimmer of potential that I might steal a glance at Laurie or perhaps even a little chat.

Laurie equally went to similar lengths. For example, one afternoon he found himself at the front of our Brooklyn Park home with an alleged' flat tyre on his bike. Before long, our feelings prospered and I asked Laurie to my Year 11 formal, followed by my year 12 formal. I'm not sure too many people can say they married the man they took to both their year 11 and 12 formals!

By the age of 18, the Rita and Laurie love story had commenced, and we began dating. Laurie swiftly became part of the family and felt very much at home.

Laura was only 10 when we started dating and one thing they adored to do was play fight. This abruptly came to a halt however, two years on, when Laurie accidentally grasped a breast that had previously never been there!   Countless unforgettable moments were shared in the eight years we dated, such as the day we were walking home, and I yelled "race you!" and took off.

However, upon my takeoff, I let out a massive fart! I was so embarrassed, but Laurie thought it was the best thing ever! I think it was at that point, that he realised he truly loved me.

Our love story was made somewhat famous on Valentine's Day in the year 1991. I rang through to the radio station to enter a kissing competition and was successful. I then called Laurie, who was completely on-board.

We were collected by a limousine with champagne upon arrival, though Laurie cunningly suggested we decline in order to preserve our bladders. The entire event was broadcasted over the radio, and after kissing for over three hours, we reined victorious and took the prize. Needless to say, we met everyone out that night and celebrated!

Something that many of you may not know is that Laurie mailed me a love letter every week for many, many years. I still own all the eloquent letters to this date for he had such a gift with the written word. He was such a romantic and a true gentleman, always opening the door for me to enter the car and forever putting my needs before his own.

 In 1997, my fairy tale was realised when, on the 6th of December, I married the man I had loved for the greater part of my life. Our honeymoon destinations included San Francisco, Mexico and the Cayman Islands. In one of the hotels there, we both needed to use the lavatory at the same time.

To set the scene, the men's and women's bathrooms were on opposite sides of the foyer with a lounge in the centre. Laurie exited first and thought I was sitting on the lounge waiting for him. In his defence, the only view he had was the back of a head.

He ran up to the lounge, pulled the woman's head back and planted a big kiss on her forehead. I came out of the bathroom at that precise moment, witnessing my newlywed husband kissing another woman. She screamed like a girl and so did Laurie!

Our flight home was a disaster … our plane encountered intense turbulence and we genuinely thought we were going to die. Laurie turned to me calmly and said, "Don't worry Rita, if we die, at least we die with the one we love". He always knew the right thing to say.

I consequently developed an enormous fear of flying and so prior to our next flight, Dr Laurie prescribed me with an incredibly strong sleeping tablet to calm my nerves. I passed out and had no recollection of the flight, or even boarding the plane. To spectators, it most likely appeared as though I was being kidnapped and smuggled out of the country.

When I woke, Laurie donned his renowned cheeky grin from ear to ear and joked, "In hindsight, I should have taken your height and weight into consideration". God I loved that smile and humour of his!

Although we couldn't live our happily ever after together, I was still fortunate enough to acquire a plethora of magical moments with the love of my life and our incredible children Franco and Alessia whom Laurie loved, adored, and lived for.

Myself, Rita and Franco wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to you all for your attendance today, to thank those who have come from interstate; to thank you all for your incredible support, and most importantly for being a part of Laurie's life - an extraordinary man, very loved, highly respected and never to be forgotten.

Originally published as The Advertiser