Dr. Enrique T. Yap, 96, a beloved physician and long-time resident of Metropolis, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 1st at 4:15 a.m. at Baptist Health Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Born in the Philippines, Dr. Yap attended the prestigious University of Santo Tomas in Manila, where he earned his medical degree in 1953. He moved to the United States to complete his General Surgery residency at Maumee Valley Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, in 1958. His dedication to his profession earned him the honor of becoming a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and International College of Surgeons in 1962, marking the start of his extraordinary medical career.
Dr. Yap established his General Surgery and Family Practice in Metropolis in 1962, where he became a cornerstone of the community for over four decades. After semi-retiring in 2006, he continued to serve his community, working in the ER and overseeing the Massac Memorial Health Clinic. In appreciation of his many years of outstanding service, Massac Memorial Hospital dedicated the new Outpatient & Surgery Center in his name.
As the Medical Director, his compassionate care extended to the residents of Southgate Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where he continued to see patients in his later years, many of them younger than he was.
In addition to his dedication to medicine, Dr. Yap found joy in the simple pleasures of life, often spending his free time traveling, playing golf, cooking, and swimming for exercise. He cherished time with his immediate family and enjoyed hosting his siblings and relatives from the Philippines. He was an active member of the Rotary Club, the Metropolis Country Club, and contributed generously to causes close to his heart, including Massac Memorial Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital, and St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Metropolis.
Dr. Yap’s contributions to the medical community and the lives he touched in Metropolis will not be forgotten. He will be remembered for his kindness, commitment, and the legacy of care he leaves behind. In keeping with his dedication to advancing medical knowledge, Dr. Yap has generously donated his body to science, continuing to impact the field even after his passing.
Dr. Yap is survived by his three children: Elizabeth Rubel of Laguna Beach, CA, Enrique L. Yap (Aileen) of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, and Leslie Young (John) of Raleigh, NC. He leaves behind two grandchildren, Audra and Leah Yap, who will cherish his memory.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at a later date at Milner & Orr Funeral Home in Paducah, KY. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Dr. Yap's life and the impact he made. An announcement will be forthcoming.
