May 02, 1996|By Fred Rasmussen | Fred Rasmussen,SUN STAFF
Dr. Stephen K. Padussis, a general surgeon and former president of the medical staff at St. Agnes Hospital who was known in Baltimore's Greek community for his charity, died Sunday of pancreatic cancer at his Lutherville home. He was 72.
Until his death, Dr. Padussis, who was semiretired, saw patients at his office at Pine Heights and Wilkens avenues.
His association with St. Agnes in Southwest Baltimore began in 1949 when he completed his internship there. In 1971, he was named president of the medical staff and chairman of the executive committee.
He also was affiliated with South Baltimore Medical Center and Church and Bon Secours hospitals.
According to his wife of 46 years, the former Helen Klosteridis, Dr. Padussis had dreamed of being a physician since boyhood.
The son of Greek immigrants, he was born in McKeesport, Pa. His family moved to The Hill, the Greek community in East Baltimore, when he was 3.
He was educated in city schools and graduated from City College in 1943. He earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland in 1948 and completed an internship and surgical residency at St. Agnes.
After opening a practice as a general surgeon, Dr. Padussis was called to active duty with the Army in 1954 and was assigned to the 43rd Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Korea. He served there until 1956 when he was discharged with the rank of captain.
He had a lifelong involvement with his old city neighborhood and for many years had Tuesday night office hours there, treating many patients who could not afford to pay him. He went to the homes of those who were too ill to come to his office.
Often he wouldn't arrive home until after midnight and then would return to his regular office early the next morning.
"He was a thoroughly beautiful human being," recalled Lou Panos, a boyhood friend and columnist for the Towson Times.
"He put himself out. If a call came that an elderly Greek was sick and needed to see him and despite a waiting room of people, he would go across town to take care of that person," Mr. Panos said.
Said John Paterakis, president of H&S Bakery and a friend for many years, "He still carried the [medical] bag and was everything you could admire in a man. If anyone deserves to go to heaven, it is Steve."
"Very thoughtful and kind are the words that come to mind when I think of him," said former Baltimore Mayor and Gov. William Donald Schaefer. "He knew how to treat patients and had a wonderful way with them."
Said George J. Moniodis, director of governmental affairs at St. Agnes, "He had his own values and they were of compassion for the poor. I personally sent to him over the years 300 or 400 patients who couldn't pay, but he didn't care about that."
"When God created Stephen K. Padussis, he created a man of wisdom, a man who cares and a man who daily looks for the dawning of each day for the opportunity to serve his fellow man," he said.
Dr. Padussis' professional memberships included the Baltimore City Medical Society, the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, the American Medical Association, the American College of Abdominal Surgeons and the American Geriatrics Society.
He was a communicant of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, Maryland Avenue and Preston Street, where a funeral service will be held at noon today .
Survivors include two daughters, Regina A. Panos of Ruxton and Stephanie Konstant of Towson; a brother, Anthony G. Padussis of Sparks; and five grandchildren.
Pub Date: 5/02/96
