Michael G. Pierik, Md

Michael G. Pierik, MD, 88, of Wakefield and formerly of Providence, Barrington and Richmond, died Friday. He was the husband of Deborah (Thomas) Pierik. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he was a son of the late Herman T. and Elizabeth (Greenwood) Pierik. A Rhode Island resident most of his life, he graduated from La Salle Academy in 1939 and Rhode Island State College (now University of Rhode Island) in 1943 and Tufts University School of Medicine in 1950. After receiving his MD from Tufts, he served a medical internship, residencies and a Fellowship in Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases at New England Medial Center, Boston. Dr. Pierik served in private practice in the Greater Providence area for 33 years. He was a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, a member of the Providence Medical Societies and was Past Medical Director of the Arthritis Foundation of Rhode Island. He was the author of numerous articles in medical journals. From 1987 until his retirement in 1995, he served as Medical Rating Officer for the Adjudication Division of the Veterans Administration in Providence. During WW II he served as an 8th Air Force Lead Navigator in England, continuing in the active Air Force Reserve and Captain in the Air Force Medical Reserve. Besides his wife he is survived by three children, Sarah Benjamin of Brooklyn, NY, Lauren T. Pierik of Warwick, NY, Christopher T. Pierik of Los Angeles, CA; eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He was the brother of the late Peter G. Pierik and John G. Pierik, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 10 AM in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 114 High Street, Wakefield. Burial will follow in Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted. Memorial donations may be made to the Rhode Island Arthritis Foundation, 2348 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886-2271.