Mr. Philip Dominick Caramia's Obituary
CARAMIA, PHILIP D. a Senior Analyst for the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) died Saturday, July 14, 2007, at his home in Dallas after a yearlong battle with glioblastoma multiforme. He was 52. Philip, born May 7, 1955, in Fairfield, California, was the second child of Dominick and Genevieve Caramia. As the son of an Air Force officer, he lived throughout the U.S. before settling as a teen in Bossier City, Louisiana. He graduated from Airline High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. He then earned his master’s degree in public administration from North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas). Philip joined GAO in Dallas in 1985 and had a distinguished 22-year career spent investigating the programs of various government agencies. His work led to improvements in federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Preceded in death by his parents, Philip is survived by his loving wife of almost 18 years, Penney Harwell Caramia; sister, Antoinette Caramia Moller and her husband Jan; sister, Joanne Caramia Leitz and her husband Kevin; niece, Rowan Leitz and nephew, Holden Leitz; mother-in-law, Patty Harwell; and brother-in-law, Richard Harwell and his wife Stacy. Philip was an avid traveler, hiker and golfer. He loved nothing more than mammal tracking in the national parks of the American West. He also enoyed the challenge of golf and hit his hole-in-one, fittingly he believed, on April 1, 2001. The family would like to thank Virginia Stark-Vance, M.D. and her staff for their determination and the outstanding care they provided Philip in his fight against brain cancer over the last year. They would also like to express their gratitude to Terri Klempke, RN; Carolyn Sephus, RN; and Laurie Jones, HHA, of Hunter Home Health, for their compassion, kindness, care and support to Philip and the family in the final two months of his life. Visitation will be held at Restland Funeral Home, Wednesday, July 18th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A memorial service will be conducted at Restland on Thursday, July 19th at 1:00 p.m. For those wishing to make donations to the fight against brain tumors as a memorial tribute to Philip, they may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association, 2720 River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018 or at www.abta.org.
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