The Life of Calvin Duane Neithamer Jr.
Dr. Calvin “Vin” Duane Neithamer, Jr., 71, of Alexandria, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 4, 2022. He was in his home at the Jefferson, surrounded by his two sons, after many years battling Parkinson’s and Dementia. He was born on May 14, 1951, in Portsmouth, Virginia to Calvin, Sr. and Grace Elizabeth Neithamer. He married wife Susan “Susie” Simonetti on December 30, 1978, and she accompanied him through his medical school training and his internship and fellowship, taking the young couple from Pittsburgh, to Italy, to Denver, to New York City, before finally moving to Alexandria, Virginia in 1987.
As with all physicians, Vin spent many years in school training for his dream to become a doctor. He earned his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh, did his residency for radiology-diagnostics at the University of Colorado, and completed his fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital (Cornell Campus). Through all this schooling and training, Vin decided he wanted to go into the new, and hyperspecialized field of interventional radiology. He was one of the first 100 interventional radiologists in the world and spent the next 30 years becoming one of the best. The combination of his bedside manner, work ethic, skills, and experience were unmatched in the field, leading to countless saved lives, and a fervent patient base. He was also routinely asked to care for high-profile patients from the D.C. area because of his expertise.
Vin’s greatest joys in life involved providing and caring for his wife Susie and two sons, Jason, and Greg. When not working, Vin supported his boys in all their endeavors to include athletics, theatre, exotic animals, rock bands, racing…and the list goes on and on. Vin was a true enabler for his boys and made it possible for them to enjoy and explore so many different avenues in life.
Vin also enjoyed a variety of hobbies to include biking, skiing, music, piano, and photography. He was most passionate about photography, and you could always point him out at any Bucknell lacrosse game or historical monument with his oversized camera lens and 35 lb. bag of equipment. His family and friends were always the beneficiary of the hundreds of thousands of photos he captured.
Vin’s personality was quite the opposite of his wife Susie’s. She was bold, outgoing, and always the one driving the party. He was reserved, quiet, and preferred a nice night in. But, if you knew Vin well, he was a riot. The combination of his brains, quirky sense of humor, and worldly experiences made him a unique and special friend.
In addition to his parents, Vin was predeceased by his wife, Susan Neithamer. He is survived by his sons, Jason (Brittany) Neithamer of Arlington, VA, and Gregory (Christine McFadden) Neithamer of Boston, MA, and sisters Heidi Reese and Julie Lewis, and his beloved dog, Tyson Bolt Neithamer.
The burial will be on December 9, 2022, at 10:00AM at Ivy Hill Cemetery located at 2823 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302. A service will at 1:00PM, at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House located at 323 S. Fairfax St, Alexandria, VA 22314. Funeral arrangements are being made by Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.