A Tribute to Dr. Steven Kopits
by Mary Hughes

I was very fortunate to be in Baltimore on Saturday 6/22/02 and was able to attend the funeral of Dr. Steven Kopits. He was the kindest, most caring person I have ever had the privilege of meeting. When Donna was first diagnosed with Morquio's Disease we were told that she would not live beyond teen age. I couldn’t find anyone locally (Stanford or Cal. Medical Centers) who had seen anyone with that disease. I was so fortunate that after writing to Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore my letter was passed to Dr. Kopits who was the Chief of Pediatric Orthopedics. He wrote back that he had seen 5 Morquio patients and would be happy to see Donna. Also my luck held because my father was born and raised in Baltimore and I have relatives there. These wonderful people who barely knew me (having lived my life in California) have been a wonderful support letting Donna & I stay with them and taking us to Hopkins for appointments. Visiting with Donna after surgery when her dad and I had to return to California.

After our first visit with Dr. Kopits, I was so impressed. He was so kind and gentle and never hurried us through and always took the time to explain everything carefully, even if it was 7:00p.m. After all the X-rays and tests were through. He brought joy to our life telling us that Donna would live an average lifetime. He also brought joy to Donna's life by saying the Milwaukee Brace she had been wearing for 2 years could come off, as it had done all the good it was going to do at that time for her scoliosis. This was in 1969 and Donna has had many visits with Dr. Kopits through the years and he has always remained the kind compassionate caring person we first met. He was right; Donna has lived a full and productive life. He was also the person who told us about LPA which Donna joined and it has been a very moving force in her life and given her much enjoyment.

His funeral was held at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen and was attended by hundreds. Very moving, when the casket was rolled down the long center isle, the little people of whom he helped so many formed an honor guard on both side of the isle holding hands. Many with tears slowly rolling down their cheeks. This is a magnanimous loss to his family, friends and all his patients. I am so glad I was one of the lucky people who had the privilege of meeting this very gracious gentleman.

Following is the article in the Baltimore Sun: By Jacques Kelly
June 19, 2002

 

Dr. Steven E.Kopits, an orthopedic surgeon who has nationally recognized for his work with dwarfism, died yesterday of a brain tumor at Union Memorial Hospital. He was 65.

As founder and director of the International Center for Skeletal
Dysplasia at St. Joseph Medical Center, he was credited with surgeries that permitted his patients to walk and live on their own.

Dr. Kopits was born in Budapest, Hungary, where his father and
grandfather had been orthopedic surgeons. His grandfather founded Hungary's Orthopedic Society.

After World War II, he moved to Austria, France and Spain, and then settled in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he earned a degree in medicine at the University in Buenos Aires. He moved to Baltimore in 1964 interned at Union Memorial and did his residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was chief of Pediatric Orthopedics and associate professor from 1969 to 1985. While at Hopkins he encountered patients who went to the hospital for genetic counseling, including children who suffered from Dwarfism.

By 1975, 80% of his patients were dwarfs and he began to develop the surgical techniques and instruments for straightening misaligned hips, knees, ankles and spines.

My son is 24 and is walking and living independently today because of Dr. Kopits, said David DuGoff of Chevy Chase, an officer of Little People's Research Fund Inc. a medical charity based in Towson that assisted Dr.Kopits efforts. He was an extraordinary person. Even if you only met him once, he had the ability to touch your life said Don Mikesell, who is on the board of Little People's Research Fund. He was a born healer, said Edina Schmidt Kopits; his former wife who lives in Baltimore. Dr. Kopits believed a good physician cared about his patients. The preached doctrine is that you cannot be a good physician if you get emotionally involved with your patients. Dr. Kopits said in an l985 Washington Post interview. My doctrine is that you cannot be a good physician unless you do get emotionally involved.

He is survived by his wife of 8 years, Jolan Vida; 2 sons, Steven Kopits of Budapest and Laszlo Kopits of New Rochelle, New York; 2 daughters, Helen Kiser of Towson and Julia Kopits of Baltimore; his mother, Vera Kopits of Baltimore; a brother, George Kopits of Vienna, Va.; a sister, Maria Ruggiero of Baltimore; and 7 grandchildren.

Contributions may be made in Dr. Kopits name to the Little People's Research Fund, Inc. 80 Sister Pierre Dr. Towson, MD 21204.