With great sorrow, the family of Rimvydas (Rim) Plenys MD, announces the passing of their beloved husband and father.

Rimvydas was born in Lithuania and emigrated to Chicago as a child. He graduated from the University of Illinois School of Medicine. His studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the army in 1966. He became a Green Beret and served during the Viet Nam war. Following his service, he completed a residency and Cardiology Fellowship at Valley Medical Center in Fresno. Rimvydas was the first cardiology fellow to graduate from the program. During the years of his practice, he pioneered and performed many new life-saving procedures in cardiology, developed and encouraged the concept and use of CPR in the Central Valley, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Cardiac Program at St. Agnes Hospital. He was one of the founding members of the Heart Group, the first cardiology group practice in Central California. His commitment to cardiology, coupled with the trust other doctors had in his abilities, led him to accept many leadership positions including Assistant Chief of Cardiology at Valley Medical Center Cardiology, Program Director and Medical Director, and Cardiac Cath Lab Director at St. Agnes. At the time of his death, he was still actively practicing and was chairperson of the Medical Staff Quality Committee at the hospital. Throughout his career, Rim's compassion for his patients was the driving force in his determination to provide the most cutting-edge procedures in quality cardiac care.

With a dynamic personality, he worked hard, but also enjoyed many exciting activities from hunting, fishing, farming, dirt-track racing, English riding with an emphasis on high jumping to developing a Black Angus cattle operation with ranches in Oregon, Texas and California. Rim was an avid skier and an accomplished and competitive poker player.

Rimvydas is survived by his loving wife Pamela, son Mark and daughter Samantha; brother Lou and his wife Lele from Chicago; brothers-in-law, John Roberts and Bruce Roberts and his wife Amy; sister-in-law Sharon Roberts-Meyer and her husband Don; and numerous other family members throughout California and Chicago, Illinois. He will be missed by his many colleagues and professional associates.

With deep appreciation, Rim's family wishes to express their heart-felt gratitude to all the doctors, nurses, and other staff members at St. Agnes Hospital for their expert and compassionate care. We are also extremely thankful to the doctors and staff of the Heart Group for all their help and care during this difficult time.

A celebration of Rim's life will be held on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 11:00 am, Clovis Hills Community Church. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations made to a favorite charity or to the St. Agnes Cardiovascular ICU department, c/o St. Agnes Hospital, 1303 E. Herndon, Fresno, CA 93720.