Nepoznati detalji iz povijesti hrvatske dijaspore – John Francis Ruzich liječio je kardinala Stepinca

John Francis Ruzich rođen je u Chicagu 27. siječnja 1896. od hrvatskih roditelja Georgea Ružića i Helene Lubić. Odgojen je u autentičnom katoličkom domu gdje su pobožnost i težak posao išli ruku pod ruku.

Nakon završenih ranih školovanja, John upisuje medicinski fakultet na katoličkom Sveučilištu Loyola u Chicagu. Dana 7. lipnja 1917. ženi se s Ellom Margaret Klein. Tri godine poslije uspješno završava studije medicine te 1920. postiže zvanje liječnika.

Nakon završenog studija slijede dvije godine stažiranja na prestižnom Columbus Memorial Hospitalu gdje biva oduševljen operacijama koje su radili ugledni profesori tadašnjeg vremena. Kada je završio stažiranje, dr. Ruzich u istoj sveučilišnoj bolnici radio je s poznatim profesorom medicine – dr. Lawrencom Rynom.

Godine 1933. postaje predsjednik bolnice “Holy Cross” u Chicagu te njezin glavni kirurg. Zbog svoga iznimnog, odličnog rada, 1934. postaje član Američke udruge kirurga (American College of Surgeons) te prima stupanj F.A.C.S. (Fellow of the American College of Surgeons). U braku s Margaret imao je troje djece: Dorothy, Johna F. Ruzicha II. i Norberta.

Godine 1953. prihvatio je veliki izazov učiniti djelo ljubavi. Naime, nadbiskup Thomas Hurley iz grada St. Augustine u Floridi zamolio ga je da otputuje u Zagreb, u tadašnju Jugoslaviju, gdje je komunistički režim bio radikalno protiv vjere i naroda. Dr. Ruzich otišao je medicinski pomoći zatvorenom i bolesnom kardinalu Alojziju Stepincu.

Uz odobrenje američkog Kongresa, dr. John Lawrence sa Sveučilišta Kalifornija, bio je određen kao suradnik dr. Ruzicha na ovom putu. Obojica liječnika susrela su se na uzletištu Kennedy u New Yorku u srpnju 1953. te primivši blagoslov bostonskog kardinala Richarda Cushinga i kardinala New Yorka Francisa Spellamna, pošla na put u komunističku zemlju.

Po dolasku u Zagreb odmah su održali sastanak s lokalnim liječnicima o stanju bolesnog kardinala i metodi liječenja. Sljedeći dan posjetili su kardinala Stepinca u kućnom pritvoru u Krašiću. Kardinal je bio vrlo sretan vidjevši ih. Nakon pregleda koje su obavili, ubrzo su utvrdili da Stepinac pati od poremećaja u krvi – “polycythemia vera rubrum”.

Obojica liječnika shvatila su i kako je kardinal Stepinac patio i od velikog tereta koji nosi Crkva njegova naroda. Utisak dr. Ruzicha nakon susreta s kardinalom bijaše da je on zaista svet čovjek.

Dr. Ruzich je nekoliko puta posjećivao kardinala Stepinca. I sam je rekao: “Pronašao sam bez sumnje da je kardinal Stepinac živi svetac, osoba izvanrednih oznaka, čistoga i bistroga uma. Imao sam dovoljno razloga vjerovati da su njegovi unutarnji osjećaji bili istovjetni s osjećajima sv. Pavla dok je bio zatvorenik u Rimu. Čitamo u Poslanici Kološanima: ‘Veselim
se sada zbog patnje koju podnosim za vas i što nedostaje u Kristovom trpljenju ja ispunjam u mojem tijelu poradi njegova tijela koje je Crkva'”.

U svojim bilješkama, između ostaloga, zapisao je: “Vjerovati i raditi s Kristom, to je tajna života koja ne traje samo za život već za cijelu vječnost!”

Nakon odlaska iz Zagreba obojica liječnika posjetila su Vatikan te se susrela s papom Pio XII. koji je i njima izrazio veliku brigu za kardinala Stepinca. Godinu dana kasnije, papa Pio XII. udijelio je dr. Ruzichu čast kada ga je imenovao Knezom sv. Jurja. Ovu ceremoniju uime pape održao je kardinal Strich u katedrali Imena Isusova u Chicagu. Dr. Ruzich s ponosom je nosio ova odličja i govorio o njima.

Dr. John F. Ruzich preko 40 godina bio je službeni liječnik Hrvatske katoličke zajednice (osnovane 1921.). Umro je u Chicagu 28. travnja 1989. u 92. godini života. Pokopan je na groblju Holy Sepulchre u blizini pokojnih hrvatskih franjevaca od kojih su mnogi bili njegovi prijatelji.

Izvori
Hrvatski katolički glasnik, rujan 1953. str. 330.
Naša Nada, broj 5, 15. svibanj 1989, str. 1
Naša Nada, broj 6, 15. lipnja 1989, str. 17.

EN

John Francis Ruzich was born in Chicago on January 27, 1896 to Croatian parents George Ruzic and Helena Lubic. He was raised in an authentic Catholic home where piety and hard work went hand in hand. After completing his early education, John F. Ruzich enrolled in medical school at Loyola Catholic University in Chicago.

On the 7th day of June 1917, he married Ella Margaret Klein. Three years later he successfully completed his medical studies and in 1920 he achieved the title of doctor. After completing his studies, he completed two years of internship at the prestigious Columbus Memorial Hospital, where he was fascinated by the operations performed by eminent professors of the time.

After completing the internship, Dr. Ruzich worked with a well-known professor of medicine, Dr. Lawrence Ryn, at the same university hospital. In 1933, Dr. Ruzich becomes president of Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago and its chief surgeon. Because of his exceptional, excellent work, in 1934 he became a member of the American College of Surgeons and received the F.A.C.S. (Fellow of the American College of Surgeons). With Margaret, he had three children, Dorothy, John F. Ruzich II and Norbert.

In 1953, Dr. Ruzich accepted the great challenge of doing an act of love. Namely, he was asked by Archbishop Thomas Hurley of St. Augustine city in Florida to travel to Zagreb, to then Yugoslavia where the communist regime was radically against religion and the people to medically help the imprisoned and sick Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac. With the approval of the U.S. Congress, Dr. John Lawrence of the University of California was designated as an associate of Dr. Ruzich on this journey.

Both doctors met at the J.F. Kennedy in New York in July 1953, and with the blessing of Boston Cardinal Richard Cushing and Cardinal Francis Spellamn of New York, set out for a communist country. Upon arrival in Zagreb, they immediately held a meeting with local doctors about the condition of the sick cardinal and the method of treatment.

The next day, they visited Cardinal Stepinac who was under house arrest in Krašić. The Cardinal was very happy to see them. After an examination, they soon determined that the cardinal was suffering from a blood disorder – “polycythemia vera rubrum”. Both doctors realized that Cardinal Stepinac also suffered from the great burden borne by the Church and his people. Dr. Ruzich’s impression after meeting the cardinal was that he was indeed a holy man.

Dr. Ruzich visited Cardinal Stepinac several times. He himself said: “I have found without a doubt that Cardinal Stepinac is a living saint, a person of extraordinary marks, of a pure and clear mind. I had reason enough to believe that his inner feelings were identical with the feelings of St. Paul while he was a prisoner in Rome. We read in the Epistle to the Colossians, ‘Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.’”

In his notes, he wrote, among other things: “To believe and work with Christ is the secret of life that lasts not only for life but for all eternity!”

After leaving Zagreb, both doctors visited the Vatican and met with Pope Pius XII, who also expressed great concern to them regarding Cardinal Stepinac. A year later, Pope Pius XII bestowed a great honor on Dr. Ruzich when he appointed him Prince of St. George. This ceremony on behalf of the Pope was held by Cardinal Strich at the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. With pride, Dr. Ruzich always wore these medals and spoke about them. Dr. John F. Ruzich was the official physician of the Croatian Catholic Union (founded in 1921) for over 40 years. He died in Chicago on April 28, 1989, at the age of 92. He was buried in the Holy Sepulcher Cemetery near the Croatian Franciscans, many of whom were friends of Dr. Ruzich. JG

Notes/Sources
Croatian Catholic Gazette, September 1953. p. 330./Our Hope, No. 5, May 15, 1989, p. 1 / Our Hope, No. 6, June 15, 1989, p. 17.

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