Damanhuri Daniel Alkaitis' Obituary
Damanhuri Daniel Alkaitis, 79, passed from this world at home in Arnold, MD, at noon on Feb. 3, 2024. Son of Antanas and Valerija Alkaitis, he was born in Lithuania on Aug. 7, 1944, while the family was escaping the Soviets during WWII. After more than five years in German displaced-persons camps, the family arrived at Ellis Island in Jan. 1950, and then settled in Cleveland, OH, where Damanhuri spent his childhood. He left to attend Dartmouth College for his undergraduate degree, later completing a Ph.D. in Chemistry at UC Berkeley. Subsequently, he received a medical degree from Johns Hopkins University; his residency in neurology was at Columbia University in New York City, where he started his career as a physician that lasted over 40 years.
In his professional life, he was known for the time, undivided attention, and customized care he gave to his patients. A natural problem solver and brilliant diagnostician, he pushed to find sources of people’s ailments and work with each one, rather than simply treating symptoms, often correctly diagnosing patients with complex medical histories that others missed. Above all, he practiced with integrity; even where standards of medical care would have called for shorter appointments or chains of pharmacological interventions, his focus was always first and foremost on care. He never turned away from calls, counseling family and friends with questions or issues, medical or otherwise.
Damanhuri was also dedicated to his relationship with God, which guided all else. He loved the Subud spiritual community that he was close to, working hard to build and sustain a community center nearby and traveling all over the world to support other Subud groups in their pursuit of a personal relationship with a higher power.
Those who were close to him also knew Damanhuri in the many little things that he made larger than life. An insatiable learner, he found joy in chopping wood for the wood stove, laying stone in the landscape, roasting organic coffee beans, and making fluffy sourdough pancakes. He relished the brilliance of a Beethoven concerto and a perfectly ripe Rainier cherry. A keen helper by nature, he was committed to his extended family, supporting and participating in the unfolding of their lives. He was a man who shied away from nothing and could marvel at everything.
He is survived by Rohana, his beloved wife of 30 years; his biological children Michael, Matthew, and Samuel (a daughter, Magda, died in 2018); and his stepchildren, Lauren, Harris, Lew, Mathew, and Alexandra, who were very much his own. He had many grandchildren, as well—13 as of three weeks ago. His sister, Milda Danielle, her husband Mindaugas, and their daughters, Gabija and Aiste, are also close family.
Burial and memorial will be held as follows:
Burial: Saturday, Feb. 17, 1:00 pm at Lasting Tributes (814 Bestgate Rd, Annapolis, MD).
Celebration of life: Sunday, Feb. 18, 3:00 pm at the Amani Event Center (4216 Howard Rd, Beltsville, MD). Light refreshments will be served.
Those not able to attend are invited to join on Zoom. Please contact Alex at alexandra.dildine [at] gmail.com for dial-in info.
In lieu of flowers, Damanhuri's wish is to donate to the Subud Archives: https://subudhistory.com/donate-and-volunteer-cnp/
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