Richard J. Tabor

Richard J. Tabor, MD, 58, of Center Valley, passed away on Friday December 5, 2025. He was the loving father of Stanislaw, Mitchell, Cassidy, and Savannah Tabor, loving stepfather to Jonathan Perkins, and loving husband of Patricia (Walsh) Tabor. Richard is a parishioner of Assumption BVM Catholic Church in Bethlehem.
Born in Newark, NJ, Richard was the son of the late Bronislaw and Gertrude (Kowalczyk) Tabor. Richard attended grammar school at Sacred Heart in Irvington, NJ (Class of 1981), and attended high school at Seton Hall Prep in South Orange, NJ (1981-1983) and at Arthur L Johnson High School in Clark, NJ (Class of 1985). Richard earned his undergraduate degree at Villanova University in Villanova, PA (Class of 1989), where Richard was a proud member of the local fraternity Lambda Tau Delta (LTD). Richard went on to earn his medical degree at Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA (Class of 1993), and completed his medical residency at Charity Hospital and LSU Medical Center in New Orleans, LA in 1997.
Richard worked as an emergency room physician first for Pocono Medical Center, and then for St. Luke's University Health Network, where he was respected not only for his clinical skill but for his humor, positivity, and willingness to teach. Colleagues remember him as the kind of physician who brought calm to chaos, always placing patients first, and lifting staff spirits with laughter and warmth.
Service to others was a defining part of Richard's life. Richard served as a Medical Officer of the New Jersey-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team with deployments in 2005 to New Orleans, LA in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and in 2010 to Haiti after the devastating earthquake. Those who served with him recall his kindness, resilience, and unwavering optimism. This included organizing a kite-building contest to boost morale while in Haiti.
In his personal life, Richard embraced life with such energy and heart that it filled every room he entered. He was passionate about many things, including music, food, sports, and the people around him. As an avid music fan, Richard had countless CDs, vinyls, and live recordings from his favorite artists filling his home, with some of the most notable being Jimmy Buffet, Pink Floyd, and the Grateful Dead. He also was a huge live music enthusiast, and could be found often at concerts, music festivals, or even just live performances at local bars, supporting up-and-coming musicians.
Along with music, Richard had a deep love for food, especially Cajun, and could not go to a restaurant without ordering a tables-worth of appetizers to share with his friends and family. Richard also enjoyed cooking for others and would often showcase this in the meals he served at the huge gatherings he regularly held for the people he loved. Whether serving a crawfish boil for a Mardi Gras party or deep frying a turkey for Thanksgiving, Richard always ensured that each party guest not only had a wonderful meal, but a wonderful experience full of plenty of laughs as well. Richard also was an avid sports fan, being especially supportive of the New York Yankees. It was his goal to get to at least one Yankees' game each year, and he was more than happy to bring along anyone looking to enjoy the game with him.
More than anything else, Richard was a doer, and he didn't let anything stand between him and his goals. Richard lived life to the fullest, always seeking out new opportunities and experiences, and he was happiest when he had someone, he loved in the passenger seat right there beside him.
Surviving with his wife, Patricia, are Richard's children: Stanislaw and his wife Alysha, Mitchell and his wife Kayla, Cassidy, Savannah, and Jonathan Perkins. Additionally, Richard is survived by his grandson Logan, his brother Robert and his companion Ana Paula Mendes Keenan, and his nieces and nephews Harrison, Lauren, Owen, and Maria, and his wife's children Megan Rafter, Erin Rafter, and Thomas Rafter. Richard is predeceased by his wife Michelle (Lewis), father Bronislaw, his mother Gertrude (Kowalczyk), his stepfather Tadeucz Wojtas, and his sister Christine Wojtas.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday December 20, 2025, at 11:00am at Assumption BVM, 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem PA 18015. Calling periods will be held on Friday December 19, 2025 from 5:00-8:00pm, in the O'Donnell Funeral Home, 908 Hanover Ave. Allentown, and again on Saturday from 9:00-10:50am in his church. Interment to follow at Holy Saviour Cemetery in Bethlehem. A reception will follow from 2:00-5:00pm at The Event Center at Shepherd Hills Golf Club in Wescosville, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Richard's memory to the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org).
Online condolences may be made at www.odonnellfuneralhomes.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard, please visit our floral store.