Dr. Etienne Massac, Jr., 75, of Washington, DC, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2026. Born in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, to Flora DeLagarde Massac and Etienne Massac, Sr., he was the second of nine children who grew up swimming in Caribbean island waters, climbing trees for fresh fruit, and building bonds that would anchor him throughout his life.

Etienne attended Charlotte Amalie High School in St. Thomas before his grandfather, Arsene Massac, brought him to Newark, New Jersey, for his senior year. At Essex Catholic High School, he befriended Ernest Dickerson, who introduced him to his cousin, Janice Marie Frye—who would later become Janice Nadiyah Massac, Etienne's wife. They attended Rutgers University–Livingston together, where Etienne pursued pre-med studies. Together they embraced Islam during their college years and married soon after graduation, beginning a partnership that would span decades.

Dr. Massac was accepted to Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, where he excelled at the top of his class, completing surgical training and becoming an Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society graduate. He later went on to join the faculty at Howard University Hospital. There, he didn't just practice medicine—he transformed it. He was an assistant professor and Chief of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Howard. He was also co-director of the National Capital Plastic Surgery Program in Washington, DC. Dr. Massac completed five years of general surgery training at Howard University Hospital. He was also granted a fellowship in hand and microsurgery from Associated Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery and was committed to compassionate care. Dr. Massac retired ~2004, leaving a legacy of dedication to his patients, and an indelible mark on countless medical professionals and patients.

He is survived by his wife, Nadiyah Massac; his children, Malik, Aisha, Yasmine, Tarik, and Nnandi Massac; his sisters Hanan (Paulette) Williams, Yvette Massac, and Antoinette Massac; his brothers Jahheal (Jean) Massac and Wayne "Flash" Massac, and their families, as well as a host of relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Cheryl Frett Geffrard, and brothers, Anthony (Ali) Massac, and John Massac.

Dr. Massac's legacy lives on in the medical professionals he trained, the patients he healed, the family he nurtured, and the communities he served across continents. His guidance, generosity, and commitment to excellence shaped countless lives and will continue to ripple forward through all who had the privilege of knowing him.

A celebration of life will be held on April 25, 2026. 

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