Dr. Arthur Heliotis, who spent more than 50 years practicing medicine in Norwalk, was remembered Sunday as "a giant in the field of internal medicine."

Heliotis emigrated to the U.S. from Greece in 1960 and practiced medicine in Norwalk for his entire career. He died from cancer just days ahead of his 77th birthday.

"Dr. Heliotis was the kind of physician who comes along once in a generation. An absolutely fantastic practitioner whose legacy of excellence is unparalleled, and we are diminished by his loss," said Dr. Jim Gadzik, a Norwalk surgeon who worked with Heliotis for decades.

The doctor's family says there was a massive turnout at his funeral in Stamford on Thursday.

"My dad was a remarkable healer whose personal touch, whose endless caring and devotion to his patients, were legendary," said Peter Heliotis.