Baltimore, Md.—Dr. Lawrence Charles Pakula, of Baltimore, Md., passed away on November 2, 2022 at the age of 89.
He is survived by loving children, Baila (Bruce) Waldholtz, Annette Pakula, Louis H.S. (Laura) Pakula, and Dale Elizabeth (Phil) Perreault; devoted brothers, Dr. Steve (Laurie) Pakula and Jerry (Denise) Pakula; adored grandchildren, Andrew (Glenna) Waldholtz, Dr. Lauren (Martin) Gregory, Jennifer (Greg) Antonucci, Frank Pakula, Elizabeth Pakula, Daniel Perreault, Sydney Perreault and Benjamin Perreault; loving great-grandchildren, Charles Waldholtz, Mason Antonucci, Connor Gregory, and Pierce Gregory. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Sheila Pakula (nee Sutland); son-in-law, Larry Kessel, and dear parents, Sidney and Dora Pakula.
Dr. Pakula grew up in Kansas City with his two brothers and two cousins.
Dr. Pakula is a graduate of Beloit College and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He followed in his father’s footsteps and became a pediatrician. He completed his residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Pakula served in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps and was stationed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines.
After his service in the Air Force, he returned to Baltimore to complete a postdoctoral fellowship in Behavioral Aspects of Pediatrics, and a postdoctoral fellowship in the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was an associate professor emeritus of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins and a co-founder of Pavilion Pediatrics in Lutherville, where he was a practicing pediatrician who cared for children for more than 50 years.
Dr. Pakula was a community volunteer and served on the boards of many organizations, including The Hospital for Consumptives of Maryland (Eudowood) Foundation Board, The Johns Hopkins Children’s Center Council, and the board of the Robert Garrett Fund for the Surgical Treatment of Children. He is a past chairman and board and committee member of Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital.
Dr. Pakula loved to see his eight grandchildren and lived to see his first great-grandchildren, a blessing few may see. He loved to travel, especially with his wife Sheila. Now he joins Sheila for his final trip.
Funeral services and internment were private. Contributions in his memory may be directed to The Sutland/Pakula NICU at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, mail to: The Fund at the Johns Hopkins Medicine, Attn: Allison Baker, 750 E. Pratt Street, Suite 1700, Baltimore, MD 21202. For additional assistance, please call The Children’s Center Development office at 410-361-6396, or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Sol Levinson & Bros.