Dr. Anthony Francis DiPaula Sr., a cheerful Baltimore obstetrician and gynecologist who delivered thousands of babies during his 50-year career, died Sunday of chronic lymphocytic leukemia at the home of his daughter in Towson. He was 81.
He was born and raised in Forest Park, the son of an Italian immigrant father who owned a North Avenue fruit store and insisted that his son would attend medical school and one day become a physician.
"His father, Antonio DiPaula, told him he would be a doctor, and that was it. He had no other choice in this world," said the daughter, Sue Ann Murphy, with a chuckle.
"His father, who was a strong believer in education, insisted that his children were all going to college, and they did. In addition to my father, two of his siblings became teachers, while the other became a lawyer, who is now a Delaware judge," she said.
A 1932 graduate of Forest Park High School, Dr. DiPaula earned a bachelor's degree from the Johns Hopkins University in 1936 and a medical degree from the University of Maryland Medical School in 1941.
During World War II, he served in the 16th Medical Regiment of Gen. Mark Clark's Fifth Army during the North African and Italian campaigns. He was discharged at the end of the war with the rank of captain.
He completed his internship at the old St. Joseph Hospital on Caroline Street, beginning a relationship with St. Joseph Medical Center that lasted until his retirement in 1992.
After completing his residency at Women's Hospital of Maryland, he opened his practice with offices in Hamilton and downtown St. Paul Street.
He also was on the staff of what is now Mercy Medical Center, Maryland General Hospital, Bon Secours Hospital and what is now Harbor Hospital Center.
A short, balding man, he was called "Baggsy" by his old friends and associates because his slender build always made his pants look baggy, relatives said.
A man of infinite good cheer and positive outlook, he was fondly remembered by colleagues and patients as a man who thoroughly practicing medicine.
"He remained cheerful and accepting even until the end of his life," said Dr. Benjamin V. del Carmen, president of the medical staff at St. Joseph Medical Center.
"He was an old-time traditional doctor whose patients always came first. His death is a great loss for St. Joseph," he said.
