Dr. Leonard J. Siudara, 94, of Berkley since 1947, died Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007, at William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. He was born June 26, 1913, in Detroit. Dr. Siudara earned a pharmacy degree while working the production line of an auto plant and later studied at the Andrew Still College of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa. He performed an internship at Detroit Osteopathic Hospital and then came to Berkley in 1948, building a home and opening a family medical practice that included obstetrics. He delivered hundreds of baby boomers and once performed 12 deliveries in a single week. Loved by his patients, he made house calls for those too ill to come to his office. He was active in the Shrine of the Little Flower parish, caring for the nuns and priests, and was the sideline doctor for the Shrine Highfootball team. Dr. Siudara served as president of the Oakland County Osteopathic Physicians Society and was among the group that founded Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital in the 1950s. The eldest son of immigrant parents, he was raised on the family farm in Rochester. He attended Rochester High School, where he earned 14 athletic letters. In 1932, he was named the Michigan 4-H Health Champion, a coveted award in the agricultural economy of the time. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He and his wife, Alex, enjoyed yachting and as early members of the Clinton River Boat Club did much to develop "Club Island," where the Alexandra was regularly moored. Dr. Siudara retired from his medical practice in 1977 but for seven years served as the resident physician on Beaver Island, where he and his wife lived year-round. He hung up his stethoscope for good in 1986; he and his wife returned to Berkley but continued to summer on the island. He took up golf at age 80 and regularly played the Beaver Island course until four years ago. He was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Alexandrine, in 2005. His brothers, Joseph and Arthur, are also deceased. Surviving are his children, Dr. Jerome "Jerry" (Elizabeth), Leonard "Bud" (Susan), Timothy (Elizabeth), Thomas (Patricia), James (Cynthia) and Maribeth Siudara Gilliam; grandchildren, Missy, Patrick, Michael, Andy, Chris, Peter, Jaime Beth Priest, Mark, Andrea, Tyler and Tiffany; two grandchildren and sister, Helene Zaremba. Visitation, 4-8 p.m. Tuesday with 7 p.m. memorial comments, Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, 705 W. 11 Mile, Royal Oak; funeral Mass, 10 a.m. Wednesday, National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak; interment, Holy Cross Cemetery, Beaver Island; memorial donations in lieu of flowers, National Shrine of the Little Flower Church.
Published in The Daily Tribune on Aug. 5, 2007.
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