LaSPEZIA, Italy — Pietro Guadalupi, 53, formerly of Auburn, returned to Italy to pass on peacefully, Jan. 2, in LaSpezia, Italy, after a long illness. He never wanted to be alone and was surrounded by many life-long friends and family.

He was born April 11, 1959, in Milano, Italy. He served in the Italian Naval Academy from 1978 to 1980 and graduated with his medical degree from Universita degli Studi in Milano. He completed a residency in trauma surgery and intensive care Chirurgia d’ Urgenza, Milano. He later completed a research fellowship in trauma surgery at Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, followed by a surgical residency, both in Baltimore. He went on to complete a cardiothoracic surgery residency at University of Massachusetts in Worcester.

He practiced general, vascular and thoracic surgery at various healthcare organizations in the U.S., Italy and U.K., before coming to Maine. He served in the U.S. Army, practicing in Alaska, and more recently at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany. He served as colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves Medical Corps until recently.

He was passionate about swimming , biking and running and instilled this passion in his girls and other young athletes. He completed several triathlons and when his health began to fail, biked with his daughters in their own triathlons.

He is survived by his wife, Laurie and two girls, Anne and Cecilia; in Italy, he is survived by his mother, sister and two brothers, one residing in Norway.

The family would like to thank Dr. Ambreen Ijaz for her unrelenting support and understanding, the triage nurses and all personnel at Maine General’s Harold Alfond Cancer Center, who helped him along this desperate journey.