Dr. Michael S. PAP

Dr. Michael S Pap, 95, entered eternal life on Friday, April 1, 2016 at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility where he had resided since November 2008. Michael was born July 24, 1920 near Uzhorod, Carpatho-Ukraine. He earned his Ph.D. from Heidelberg University in 1948 and worked as legal counselor for the International Refugee Organization until 1949 when he made his way to America after a harrowing escape from the Nazi's. In May of 1949, he landed in Boston, MA with 2 friends in tow. He was fluent in 7 languages, but at the time of his immigration to America, English was not one of them. The only word the 3 friends knew and associated with their new country was "the Best". A Catholic charity ceded them with 4.00 dollars as they boarded a train to Chicago, where Michael went to meet his oldest sister. They went to the dining car where they were approached by a waiter who requested their order. The only English word they knew, "the best" resulted in a 3 course chicken dinner, which consumed all but of a nickel of their money. His friends blamed him for squandering their wealth. A sympathetic manager, with whom they could communicate, replenished their 4 dollars, and told them ordering "the best", would have to wait until they were employed. Michael stayed with his oldest sister in Chicago for several months while he acclimated to his new country. He then moved to Detroit where he worked on the assembly line at the Chrysler Corporation. He worked the night shift on the line, and during the day went to Wayne State University, taking English classes. In June of 1950, he married the girl of his dreams, Anne Kimak. He came to the USA with letters of recommendations from three internationally renowned scholars at Heidelberg University, and these were disseminated to academic institutions in the USA that included Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. In August of 1950, he was offered a faculty research position at Notre Dame, thus beginning his academic career in America. In 1952, his proudest moment came when he became a citizen of the country he so loved, the United States of America. In 1958, he was offered a faculty position at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio where he served until his retirement in 1988. In 1960, he was appointed Director of the Institute of Soviet and East European Studies and he became a national expert on communism. During the Cold war, diplomats at the highest levels of government elicited his assessment of the Soviet threat. This prompted several trips to the White House where he met with President Gerald Ford. From 1972 to 1974, he was granted a leave of absence from John Carroll to serve in Mayor Ralph Perk's cabinet as Director of Human Resources and Economic development for the City of Cleveland, Ohio. Michael received numerous awards and commendations during his tenure at John Carroll University, including the Shevchenko Freedom Award, Cleveland's Most Outstanding Naturalized Citizen, and John Carroll University Distinguished Faculty Award. He helped many of his students launch their careers in academics and politics. He was devoted to his family and is survived by his 4 children, Steven Pap MD (Sally), of Cleveland, Ohio, John Pap MD (Susan) of Marquette, MI, Charles Pap DDS (Karen) of Mentor, OH, and Mary Anne Barbera (Richard JD) of Cleveland, OH; he had 14 grandchildren, Michael Pap DDS (Sarah) of Cleveland, OH, Christopher Pap (Michaela) of Cleveland, OH, Daniel Pap MD (Sila) of Cincinnati, OH, Kevin Pap of Cleveland, OH, Molly Pap of Cleveland, OH, Matthew Pap (Hayley) of Verona, WI, Kathryn Pap of Kalamazoo, MI, Andrew Pap MD (Tina) of Iowa City, IA, Adam Pap of Houghton MI, Mark Pap of Ann Arbor, MI, Luke Pap, and Aaron Pap, both of Marquette MI, Joseph Pap and John Pap of Mentor, Ohio; 7 great grandchildren that included Emma and Leah Pap of Verona, WI, Charlotte, Steven and Laura Pap, of Cleveland, Megan Pap of Cleveland, and Anni Pap of Cincinnati. Michael was perhaps the most devoted Cleveland Indians fan in history and spent many summer evenings on his favorite metal glider, smoking his favorite custom pipe/cigar while he listened to the radio without complaining as his team went down to defeat. Every Sunday after church, during football season, would be spent in his favorite Lazy Boy, watching his beloved Cleveland Browns, a team, at one point, which was actually worth cheering for. Despite his numerous professional obligations, he always made time for his family. Most weekends, he would pack up 2 or 3 of his kids, and take them fishing. He would rent a row boat, go to the same corner of his favorite little lake, and spend the next 4 hours dodging errant casts and trying to avoid getting hooked, a feat at which he was not always successful. He and his family relished the annual vacation trip to the Havila Hotel, in Wildwood, New Jersey, which featured a marquis listing the attribute of which the management was most proud: "hot and cold running water". The owners were Ukrainian, and it seemed that Michael was a good friend with every Ukrainian in America. His loving wife, Anne, of more than 50 years, preceded him in death and his family and friends will sorely miss him. The Pap family wishes to acknowledge and thank profoundly the wonderful staff, especially the 200 wing staff, at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility in Ishpeming for the loving care they gave Michael in the waning years of his life. They are a truly remarkable group of people who treat everybody with dignity and respect in often trying circumstances. We are truly fortunate to have such a committed group of compassionate caregivers in our community. We also want to thank Dr. Cathy Kroll for her excellent care of Michael while he was at MCMCF. The Pap family will meet with family and friends to celebrate a life well lived at St. Peters Cathedral on Tuesday April 5, 2016 starting at 10:30 AM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:00 noon with Rev. Msgr. Michael Steber officiating. A luncheon will follow in the church hall. Michael will be buried next to his beloved wife in Cleveland, Ohio. The Canale-Tonella Funeral home in Marquette is assisting the family where memories may be shared at canalefuneral.com