Maxwell Stepanuk, Famed Surgeon and Educator, Dies at 78

Maxwell Stepanuk Jr., M.D., a prominent Philadelphia orthopedic surgeon and educator, passed away on May 18, 2023, in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, at the age of 78.

For a quarter century, Stepanuk was an associate professor and director of residency of the Orthopedic Surgery Division at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (from 1990 to 2015) and maintained practices in Elkins Park and Wyndmoor, two suburbs of Philadelphia. Earlier in his career he was an orthopedic surgeon at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Dr. Stepanuk earned his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1971. He then completed his orthopedic surgery residency in 1976 at Martin Place Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.

Stepanuk was born on January 5, 1945, in Philadelphia to the Maxwell and Julie Stepanuk. He attended Central High School where he was in the 218th graduating class. He then graduated from Temple University in 1966.

While in school both at Central and Temple, he was a track star. At Temple, he was the 1965 Champion in the 120-yard high hurdles at the Mid-Atlantic Conference. He was also captain of the 1966 teams when they won the Mid Atlantic Conference for the first time.

Stepanuk loved cooking, painting, fishing, reading, and gardening and studied Bonsai under Chase Rosade in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and had his own collection of trees.

He also founded the Fishing Ministry which he led for 20 years. He spent as much time as possible on Capt. Eddie’s boat, deep sea fishing off New Jersey’s barrier Islands including Barnegat Light, New Jersey.

He and his wife Sandy loved to go on adventures together which usually involved both art and nature. They spent a lot of time on Mount Desert Island and hiking in Acadia National Park.

Stepanuk is survived by his wife of 34 years, Sandra, daughters Julia and Natalie and son Max. He is also survived by siblings Karen Koran, Ken, Kevin as well as his grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.