People who knew Dr. Joseph A. Papsidero say he’ll always be remembered and respected.
Papsidero, a former professor and chairperson of the MSU Department of Community Health Science in the Colleges of Human and Osteopathic Medicine, lost his battle with cancer Monday in Lansing. He was 70.
An Okemos resident, Papsidero began his MSU tenure in June 1971. He retired July 1 of this year.
“We are extremely sad that he is gone and we no longer have him as a member of our faculty,” said Allen Jacobs, dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Jacobs said Papsidero made multiple contributions to MSU through his teaching, research and scholarship programs.
“He also gave us a huge international presence that was very valuable,” Jacobs said.
Papsidero also served as a visiting professor of gerontology and geriatrics at the University of Rome’s School of Medicine. He also founded CIMSA - the Community Integrated Medicine Students Association.
The group performs health screens, conducts health fairs and performs diabetic counseling.
“He had an exceptional amount of knowledge and was very community focused,” said Patricia Florence, a second year osteopathic medicine graduate student who serves as CIMSA’s president. “He was very dedicated and always trying to help and get more information to the community.”
Patricia Grauer, director of public relations for the College of Osteopathic Medicine, said Papsidero was dedicated to geriatrics even before it became a popular field. Grauer described her former co-worker as a “pioneer” of geriatrics.
“His passion for building the community was contagious,” Grauer said. “He was a very respected member of our staff.”
Grauer also said Papsidero was a well-liked colleague with a great sense of humor.
“It was a pleasure working with him, he was absolutely a lot of fun to be around,” she said.
Papsidero graduated from New York’s North Tonawanda High School - where he played football - in 1947.
He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Buffalo. Later, he attended both the University of North Carolina and Case Western University where he received another master’s degree and a doctorate.
His funeral will be held in North Tonawanda, N.Y., on Saturday. The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Hospice of Clinton Memorial and Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital.
