Passed away peacefully with his wife by his side on November 28, 2022 after a four-year battle with Primary Progressive Aphasia, a rare neuro-degenerative disease. A second-generation physician, Julian was born to Emilio F. De Lia, M.D. and Anita De Lia (nee Poiani) on October 18, 1944 in Newark, N.J. Beloved by his brothers, Louis G. De Lia (diseased) and Emilio F. De Lia. He is survived by his beloved wife of 28 years, Ellie, and his son, Joe, who adores him as the number one hero in his life.
Julian graduated 1968 B.S.: St. Peter’s University, Jersey City, N.J.; 1972 M.D, 1973 Internship (surgery) New Jersey College of Medicine at Newark; 1976 Residency (Ob/GYN) Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, N.J.; 1988 M.B.A., University of Utah, Salt Lake. Called to make a meaningful contribution to teaching and research, Julian transitioned from private practice to a career in academic medicine at the University of Utah in 1978. In 1983, he had a patient with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), a condition with high morbidity and mortality at the time. His curiosity and drive to improve TTTS outcomes lead him to explore the use of laser surgery to treat placental abnormalities. In 1991, he transferred to the Medical College of Wisconsin where he went on to develop his pioneering laser treatment of TTTS and document a significant nutritional aspect of the disease resulting in saved lives of hundreds of babies. He is recognized for his revolutionary contribution to obstetrics in the treatment of TTTS. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and was named one of the Fathers of Maternal-Fetal Surgery by the International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society, 2007.
Julian was a gifted athlete who competed in swimming, water polo, soccer, football and rugby. In 2009, he was one of the first inductees to the Saint Peter’s University Sports Hall of Fame. His love of sports carried through to his son who followed in his footsteps playing baseball, football and rugby. Julian cherished his days in the Little League dugout as an assistant coach and practicing plays in the back yard with Joe.
In 1994, he married Ellie (nee Tubbs) who was introduced to him by a former TTTS patient. Together they have enjoyed a happy life raising their son in their Fox Point, WI home and supported by long-time connections to friends and neighbors. Julian was Ellie’s biggest cheerleader who supported all of her endeavors and loved her deeply as a mother to Joe and his life-partner.
Ellie and Joe have chosen cremation for Julian, and a celebration of life service to be held in New Jersey, date TBD. Memorial gifts to the Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Foundation, 411 Longbeach Parkway Bay Village, Ohio 44140 USA, tttsfoundation.org are appreciated.