PAUL RADELAT
July 5, 1933 - July 30, 2022
Paul B. Radelat, M.D., J.D., the first born of Paul Radelat, Jr., and Elsa Maspero Radelat passed away peacefully at his home of cardiovascular complications on July 30, 2022. Born into a loving and supportive family of modest means, July 5, 1933, in New Orleans, Louisiana, he worked his way through Jesuit High School, Loyola University and Louisiana State University of Medicine all in the same city. Following his graduation from medical school in June 1957, and his internship at Charity Hospital, he began his postgraduate studies in Pathology at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, at Gargas Hospital in the Panama Canal Zone and at Louisiana State University School of Medicine where he held a Research Fellowship in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. He passed the examination for board certification in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology in 1962 and then served two years on active duty with the United States Navy as Chief of Pathology at the United States Naval Academy.
At various times in civilian life, he served as Staff Pathologist at Spohn Hospital and the Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas; Chief Deputy Medical Examiner, Las Vegas, Nevada, Staff Pathologist at Methodist Hospital, Christus Saint Joseph, Christus St. John, Christus Saint Mary Hospital, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center and Valley Regional Medical Center, He served as Chief of Pathology at
Diagnostic Center Hospital and the Chief of Pathology at Christus St Catherine Hospital for many years. Additionally, he was a Clinical Professor of Pathology at Baylor College of Medicine, a consultant to the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, the Office of the Harris County Medical Examiner and Texas Children’s Hospital.
He arrived in Houston in 1966 and while simultaneously meeting the demands of his position as Chief of Pathology at Diagnostic Center Hospital, he attended the Bates College of Law, University of Houston, utilizing the educational benefits available to those who had served on active duty in the U.s> Military. He graduated in 1969, passed the Texas State Bar examination and was shortly thereafter admitted to the Texas State Bar, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Released from active duty with the United States Navy in 1964, he remained in the Naval Reserve holding various billets as Pathologist, General Medical Officer, Submarine Medial Officer and Mobilization Expert. Along the way, he was selected to attend further training at the National War College, the Naval War College, the Pentagon, and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. He retired from the Naval Reserves as Captain in 1993.
Although medicine was his first professional love, he practiced law from 1991 to 2000 defending physicians, nurses and other health care providers with skill and enthusiasm. He was Of Counsel to the law firms of McFall and Sartwelle, Beirne, Maynard and Parson and Managing Partner of Sartwelle and Radelat.
Blessed with energy, good health, and ample intelligence, according to his peers, he made everything look easy.
As proud as he was of his professional attainment, he was at least as proud of his penchant for physical challenge and risk. He was a trans-continental hitchhiker in his teens, an occasional sport parachute jumper as a young adult, a competent skier with a decent parallel turn, a nine-time marathon runner, and in his later years a world champion power lifter. In the cracks, he managed to squeeze in a trans-Atlantic crossing from Africa to Bermuda in a 40foot sailboat, a trip through Mongolia to the Chinese border on horseback, a visit to the north Pole on a nuclearpowered Russian icebreaker, and a journey across West Africa by riverboat and camel to Timbuctoo. For him, life was not an either-or proposition but rather an adventure of the mind, body, and spirit. If there is life hereafter, it is certain that given half a chance, he will make the most of his circumstances.
He leaves behind a younger brother, Robert, two former wives, Carole and Jean, two wonderful daughters, Jill and Sally, two fantastic grandchildren, Charlotte and Stuart and the love of his life who, unfortunately, must remain un-named.
His family expresses their deepest gratitude to Nicole Johnson for her loving companionship to Paul, Nicole’s two children Jordan and Jodi, Dr. Harold Selzman for his friendship and medical care, Carla Ochoa, Jamie Walker, Cheque (Ezequiel) Marquez Yanez, Tim Kohn, Harbor Hospice, and At Your Side Home Care.
A memorial service celebrating Paul’s life will be held on Saturday, August 20 at 3pm at the First Congregational Church of Houston, 10840 Beinhorn Road.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the DePelchin Children’s Center in Houston or to the Gladney Center for Adoption in Fort Worth.