Loreto Ruiz Dacio

Dr. Loreto Ruiz Dacio, also lovingly known as Lito or Larry, 91 years old of Dover, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly from postoperative complications on Friday, July 17, 2026. He was a good and faithful servant of the Lord and is now home in Heaven.

He was born to Sinforoso and Dionecia Ruiz Dacio on December 8, 1934 in Flores, San Manuel, Pangasinan, Philippines. He graduated from Universidad de Dagupan and University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERMMMC), Class of 1962, in Manila, Philippines. In 1956, he was a member of the choir at Camp Aguinaldo Evangelical Church, when he met fellow choir member Zenaida "Zeny" Escusa and was smitten. Ten years later, they were married in Manila on June 1, 1966, a month before they moved to Albany, NY on June 25, 1966 for his surgical residency.

From Albany, they moved from Elizabeth, NJ to Cleveland, OH, then Barberton, OH, and eventually settled in Dover, OH in June 1973, where he began his private practice primarily as a General Surgeon but he also took care of patients as a General Practitioner. He was affiliated with Union Hospital and Twin City Hospital and also took care of patients as the Tuscarawas County Home and Tuscarawas County Jail physician until his retirement in 1999. He was dedicated to his patients and was the first surgeon at Union Hospital to be trained in laparoscopic surgery.

Lito/Larry loved telling stories of his childhood in the Philippines, although it was difficult due to World War II. However, the many trials he faced taught him at an early age how God is faithful and worked all things together for him to survive the war and get into medical school against all odds.

He enjoyed the outdoors and spent time fishing, hunting, and gardening vegetables to the point of taking over Zeny's flower beds with eggplants, garlic, and onion plants instead. He was an active member of the Dover First United Methodist Church since joining in 1973. He also served as President of the Tuscarawas County Medical Society and Dover Kiwanis, and was in a bowling league for many years. He was also a fan of the Cleveland Browns, Cavaliers, and Guardians. He loved music and would often serenade Zeny with a song either by singing or playing his saxophone.

He is survived by his wife, Zeny; his children Liza (Denny) Talampas of Wooster, Ohio, Loreto, Jr. "Jon" (Danielle) Dacio of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Zenia (Simeon) Mesina of New York, New York; his grandchildren Tirzah (Nathaniel) Sprecher, Josiah, and Joel Talampas; Loreto Jonathan, Loreto David, Ziva Olivia, Loreto Noah, and Loreto Elijah Dacio; Angelica and Benjamin Bates; and Elias Mesina; siblings Isaiah (Marietta) Dacio and Gloria ("Vic") Baclit; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Ruth, brothers-in-law Vic Baclit, Rizalino and Cezar Escusa, and father-in-law and mother-in-law Evaristo and Cristina Escusa.

A Celebration of Life funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Dover First United Methodist Church, followed by burial at Dover Burial Park and a meal at Dover First United Methodist Church. Calling hours will be held Friday, July 24, 2026 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Toland Hertzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover and Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 10:00 - 11:00 AM at Dover First United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: Dover First United Methodist Church (https://doverfirst.org/give); Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/); Leiomyosarcoma Support and Direct Research Foundation (https://lmsdr.app.neoncrm.com/ZDM); and World Vision (https://www.worldvision.org/donate).