Carl Stanitski Obituary

Carl L. Stanitski, M.D. CHARLESTONI - Carl L. Stanitski, M.D., 86 of Charleston, S.C., husband of Deborah F. Stanitski, M.D., entered into eternal rest July 6, 2025. He was born May 3, 1939, to Leon and Florence Stanitski in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. He grew up with his identical twin, Conrad. Following graduation from Shamokin High School he attended Bloomsberg State Teachers College (now Bloomsberg University) where he majored in chemistry. After graduating in 1960, he began a lifelong interest in teaching beginning with physics and English instruction at Lower Dauphin High School augmented by coaching track. Thereafter. he initiated his career in medicine, attending Jefferson Medical College, and graduated in 1967. There he met lifelong friends, Drs. Bill Horner (Cookie) and Robert Madigan (Brenda). He completed internship at Jefferson and then spent two years at NIH (National Institute of Health). Carl completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh, also spending a year at Rancho Los Amigos hospital in Los Angeles. He spent the next 17 years in Pittsburgh where he was at the Childrens Hospital, marrying Kathryn Hill, the mother of his four children. Carl developed an expertise in pediatric and adolescent sports medicine where he initiated the art of arthroscopy. He was also intensively involved in spinal and limb deformity. During his time in Pittsburgh, he completed a pediatric orthopedic fellowship at Boston Childrens Hospital. In 1991, Carl attained full professor status and moved to the Childrens Hospital of Michigan as the Chief of Orthopedics. His second wife was the Associate Chief. He remained in Michigan until 1999 when he stepped down as chief, following Deborah who had attained full professor status at MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) in Charleston. In Charleston, he continued active practice centering around, but not limited to, sports medicine and arthroscopy. During his career he published two books and dozens of articles as well as giving invited lectures worldwide. He was affiliated with Project Hope and ultimately honored with membership in the Polish Orthopedic Society of his ancestral homeland. Following formal retirement in 2005 he spent ten years evaluating residency and fellowship programs in all specialties across the globe as an employee of the ACGME (Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education). Carl continued his lifelong involvement in athletics starting with basketball, baseball and track followed by squash, tennis, rowing and skiing. His musical passion began with playing the clarinet as a child and continued throughout his life loaning his rich baritone voice to various groups. In Pittsburgh, he was a church choir member. Upon moving to Michigan he was a baritone in the Detroit Concert choir as well as a member of two church choirs. Carl's musical involvement in Charleston began as a member of St. Michael's Church choir. He had a brief association with the CSO chamber choir prior to ten years with the Grace Church Choir followed by membership in the Charleston Men's Choir. His love of Maine was initiated by friend and medical school roommate, Dr. Bill Horner, of Bar Harbor, Maine. Carl's summers in Maine continued throughout his Pittsburgh, Michigan, and Charleston years. Carl's musical and athletic pursuits were curtailed by progression of his multiple system atrophy disease (MSA- cerebellar type) resulting in permanent residence in the Estes Community at Gadsden Glen in April 2023. Carl was most proud of his impact on pediatric patients and his teaching of generations of residents and fellows. He is survived by his wife, Deborah; former wife, Kathy; twin brother, Conrad (Barbara); stepchildren, Jonathan Bell (Hailey), Whitney Wakeling (Danny); children, Mike (Christine), Ann Stachowicz (Mark), John Park (Hee-Joo), and Kate (Frazer McGilvray); four step-grandchildren; and seven grandchildren; and lifelong friends, Drs. Bill Horner and Robert Madigan. Private memorials will be held in Charleston and Maine. Donations in memory of Carl may be made to: 1) Friends of Acadia at friendsofacadia.org/mem bership/giving/donate or P.O. Box 45; BarHarbor, Maine 04609 2) Mission MSA at [email protected] or 1660 International Drive, Suite 600; McLean, Virginia 22102 Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., West Ashley Chapel. A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.