People on the Move for Sunday, January 29, 2012

Dr. Zina to retire in Ecuador

After almost 20 years of caring for residents of Kaua‘i, Dr. Nico Zina will officially retire on Feb. 7. He and his wife, Paula, will depart two days later for Ecuador, where the couple plans to retire.

A farewell party will be held for Dr. Zina from 4 to 6 p.m. on Feb. 7, just after his last shift ends.

The party will be held in conference room A by the main lobby of Wilcox Memorial Hospital.

Current and former patients, coworkers, friends and neighbors are all invited to attend.

On Feb. 9, the Zinas will depart on their “last adventure,” said Paula.

“The journey has started, the huge container with every memory we have experienced in the 70 years is on its way to Ecuador. It was a great relief, albeit bitter sweet,” she said.

She added that their excitement and anticipation for the new adventure are mixed with sadness about leaving friends behind.

The Zinas moved to Kaua‘i in 1992, and Nico began working for Wilcox Hospital.

“Twenty wonderful years have gone (by), living and learning and being in the service of people who were kind, friendly (most of the time), courteous on the road and generous, especially in times of need, like during Iniki,” Paula said.

The Zinas have traveled to many places in the world, feeling the need to find a place where learning and new experiences were awaiting them.

Recently, they began looking for “that last destiny,” she said.

The search led them to South America, Paula said.

Dr. Zina said he has been privileged  being privileged to have been abl to serve the health needs of the Kaua‘i community.

“He is grateful that the hospital has given him a platform to share everything he has learned and his extensive professional experiences with colleagues, as well as patients,” she said.

Their oldest son, Tony Zina, and their youngest son, Paul Zina, will remain on Kaua‘i.